LONDON, Sept 5: Michael Vaughan recorded his fourth Test century of the summer as he made 182 not out in England’s 336 for two on the first day of the deciding fourth Test against India Thursday.

Vaughan reached three figures off a mis-field, punching the air in delight, before going on the attack with a series of boundaries to put the home side in total control.

The Yorkshire opener, who made 100 in the first Test and a career-best 197 in the second, batted throughout the day after Nasser Hussain, fearful of the Indian spinners on a hard Oval track, had opted to bat in overcast conditions.

But Vaughan’s performance — he was averaging more than 73 in his past six Tests before coming to the crease Thursday — tore back the initiative. He scored 108 of his runs in fours

Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher, however, also contributed hugely.

The 27-year-old Vaughan had played the anchor role to the recalled Trescothick, just back from a broken thumb, in the morning as the Somerset opener smashed his 13th Test half-century before he was out shortly before lunch for 57.

Trescothick was initially cautious but accelerated his scoring and brought up the England 50 by pulling medium-pacer Ajit Agarkar to the midwicket boundary with his third four of the over.

He later brought up his own 50 with a straight drive off strike bowler Zaheer Khan which ricocheted off the stumps at the far end.

In the next over from the left-armer Trescothick guided a short ball between slip and gully to notch his ninth boundary before he fell into a leg-side trap and was caught by Sanjay Bangar, hooking a short ball from outside off stump.

That made it 98 for one. More of the same was to come, however, the 27-year-old Vaughan combining with the left-handed Butcher in a second-wicket partnership of 174.

Vaughan survived a close call when he was given not out by the third umpire after diving to make his ground after being sent back by Butcher. Otherwise, he was virtually flawless.

He accelerated his scoring after lunch and brought up his 50 with a back-foot square drive off Agarkar to the cover boundary.

The Indian fielders grew disheartened as the day progressed and their play was characterised by sloppy ground fielding and long periods of bowling outside the off stump, not forcing the batsmen to play.

Vaughan celebrated his hundred with a straight drive for four off leg-spinner Anil Kumble followed by a pull to the long-on rope.

In the final session Butcher and Vaughan picked up their scoring rate, smashing 74 off the 16 overs in the first hour.

Butcher scored his 11th Test half-century before he was out in bizarre circumstances shortly afterwards when he mistimed a sweep shot off Harbhajan only to watch the ball balloon off the back of his bat and pop up in the air to Rahul Dravid at slip.

John Crawley was 16 not out at the close, having helped to put on 64 for the third wicket. Agarkar ended with no wicket for 72 off 15 overs.

Vaughan was the first Englishman since Graham Gooch in 1990 to score four Test hundreds in one summer.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings):