Matt Prior. -Photo by AFP

KOLKATA: Alastair Cook fell just short of a double ton as England piled on the runs on the third day of the third Test in Kolkata on Friday.

Starting the day at 216-1, India found the pitch a bit more supportive than the previous day but England still managed a lead of 193 at stumps, closing at 509 for six.

Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen scored half centuries as Cook was run out in a bizarre manner at 190. Matt Prior and Graeme Swann shared a partnership of fifty to guide England to a dominant position - one which could see them take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Trott was caught out by MS Dhoni off Pragyan Ojha at 87 and Pietersen was given out lbw to Ravichandran Ashwin on 54. Ian Bell was dismissed by Ishant Sharma as Samit Patel's wicket was taken by Ojha just as he was cruising on 33.

Prior and Swann kept up England's fight with 40 and 21 runs respectively at the close.

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