Jos Buttler hit a half-century to put England in a strong position on Day 3 of the fourth Test against India at Southampton on Saturday.

Buttler top scored with 69 to help England finish the day on 260 for eight, for an overall lead of 233 runs.

Sam Curran once again thwarted the Indians with the bat as he stroked a fluent 37, to follow up on his 78 in the first innings, while captain Joe Root made 48.

Mohammed Shami picked up three wickets for 53, while Ishant Sharma claimed two for 36, and Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin took one wicket each.

The England tailenders are once again frustrating the Indians. Curran taps Shami on the off-side for one before Rashid opens the face of the bat and runs the ball behind point for a four before taking a single.

Ashwin comes back into the attack as Rashid plays out a maiden over.

Shami ends the second day's play with the wicket of Rashid, who gets the edge and is caught behind for 11.

India have found it hard to dismiss Curran and the young left-hander once again proving his mettle with the bat.

He punches a full delivery from Bumrah down the ground for a four and then cover drives the next ball through the covers for the same result.

It would be interesting to see Adil Rashid's approach with the bat, who is normally likes to play some shots. He defends the first five balls before he clips the last ball in some style through square leg for a four.

Shami comes back into the attack as he replaces Bumrah, who was hit for two fours in his previous over.

But no stopping the flow of runs as Curran runs the last ball of the over through thirdman for a four to take England past the 250-run mark.

Curran is playing an excellent innings once again, having taken his score to 35, with the help of five fours.

Surprisingly, India don't take the second new ball as Ashwin continues to bowl in tandem with Pandya.

While Ashwin bowls a maiden, Buttler and Curran easily pick Pandya for five runs in his ninth over.

The second new ball is taken after 82 overs and decides to continue with off-spinner Ashwin.

A single to Buttler off the first ball before Curran drills the last ball through the covers for a four.

India bring back their best bowler Bumrah into the attack, to bowl with the new ball. Buttler sensibly plays out a maiden from India's premier strike bowler.

Pace from both ends as Ishant comes back into the attack. He makes the breakthrough with the wicket of Buttler, who is given out leg before wicket after he is beaten by the incoming delivery as he tries to flick it across the line.

Buttler immediately takes the DRS but to no avail as the ball is going on to clip the stumps and the decision stands.

Buttler walks back after a splendid innings of 69 as England are reduced to 233 for seven in 85 overs, with an overall lead of 206 runs.

Ashwin gets one to rip and turn as Buttler is hit on the pads but the leg before appeal is turned down.

The next ball is a full toss as Buttler drills it through the covers for a four to bring up his fifty, from 96 balls.

The ball still doing things as Ashwin gets one to turn sharply and kick off from length. That was pitched outside the leg-stump but it spun right across Curran, who was beaten all ends up and even wicketkeeper Pant struggled to collect it.

Infact, Pant has suffered a blow on his throat in his attempt to gather the ball which kicked off from length and the physio has to come out to attend.

It looks like Ashwin and Pandya just going rushing through their overs as India look to reach the 80-over mark so they can take the second new ball.

All the three frontline pacers are enjoying a break despite Buttler running away with the game in the company of Curran.

Buttler in full flow as he brings out a cracking cover drive off a Pandya half-volley for a four to take the total to 218 for six in 80 overs, for an overall lead of 191 runs.

A poor delivery from Curran as he bowls a wide half-volley which the left-hander slams through point for a four before taking a single.

Buttler gets an edge as Pandya gets some extra bounce but the ball doesn't carry to the fielder in the slips.

Ashwin getting a lot of turn from the rough outside the right-hander's off-stump but Buttler doing well to play him out.

He is beaten by the quicker one which goes straight on as wicketkeeper Pant also fails to gather but England manage to pick two singles from the over.

Buttler keeps the scoreboard ticking along as he picks another couple of runs off the last ball of Pandya's fifth over.

Curran is a busy batsman and he does well to flick Ashwin against the spin through midwicket for a couple.

Ashwin gets one to turn big with some extra bounce as Curran leaves and it beats wicketkeeper Pant to earn England a couple of byes before the left-hander takes a single off the last ball.

In the next over, Curran takes another run off Pandya to bring up England's 200, in the 76th over.

India appeal for catch behind against Buttler off Ashwin which is turned down as the ball goes straight on.

Kohli took the DRS but to no avail as they lose their second and final review.

Buttler takes a single off the fifth ball before Stokes drills the last ball through the covers for a four.

Buttler gets another boundary in the next over as he slaps a wide half-volley from Pandya through the covers for a four as the lead goes past the 150-run mark.

Ashwin makes the vital breakthrough with the wicket of Stokes, who is caught by Rahane at slip after scoring 30.

A wicket finally for Ashwin, after toiling hard for 26 overs. India will be hoping to clean up tail as soon as possible unlike in the first innings, when the last four wickets scored 160 runs for England.

England's hero with the bat in the first innings, Sam Curran gets off the mark with a single.

Buttler gets a low full toss which he drives down to long-on for one but he is yet again beaten outside the off-stump by Pandya before he takes one to thirdman.

Buttler is playing a crucial hand with the bat, as he flicks Ashwin through midwicket for two runs and then takes one to take his score into the 40s.

Ashwin gets one to turn sharply as Curran, who comes forward to defend is beaten, and he then takes one on the leg side.

England are 185 for six in 71 overs, with an overall lead of 158 runs. Buttler has been going strong, taking his score to 43 from 76 balls, with the help of four fours.

Ashwin continues but he is not posing any threat to the two England batsmen -- Stokes and Buttler -- who without taking any risks are slowly but steadily keep the scoreboard ticking along.

Buttler has been quite a few times as Bumrah again goes past the edge. The pacer then drifts on the pads as Buttler clips it through square leg for a four.

In the next over, Ashwin flights one and beats Buttler with some big turn as the right-hander is hit on the pads. But the next ball is flatter as Buttler can rock back and turn it on the leg side for one.

Ashwin has been inconsistent with his length today and England have been able to easily deal with him.

Finally, Hardik Pandya comes into the attack, to bowl the 66th over of the innings.

The first ball is on the leg stump as Buttler turns it through square leg for two runs and then takes one.

Stokes slashes at a short wide delivery but fails to make connection before he is beaten by a full delivery which moves away enough to go past the edge.

Off-spinner Ashwin to kick off proceedings with the ball for India after the tea break. Stokes defends the first four balls before he gets an edge off the fifth ball but it falls short of the slips for a single and the last ball is down the leg side to Buttler.

Jasprit Bumrah from the other end. The first ball squares up Stokes, who gets a thick outside edge on the off-side for a single.

England are 154 for five in 60 overs, with both Stokes and Buttler on 22.

The Test match is still delicately poised as England reach 152 for five in 58 overs at the tea break on Day 3.

Ben Stokes was unbeaten on a patient 20 from 79 balls, while Jos Buttler had made 22 from 39 balls, as England stretched their lead to 125 runs.

India continued to chip away at the wickets as Shami struck with the first ball of the session, as he bowled Jonny Bairstow for a first ball duck.

Captain Joe Root, who made 48, before he was run out by a direct hit from Shami at mid-on.

England had lost three wickets in the morning session. India had struck twice within the first 12 overs to remove Alastair Cook (12) and Moeen Ali (9), who was promoted up the order to allow Root to bat at his favoured position of four.

ennings was trapped lbw on 36 by Shami off the final ball of the session.

Buttler plays a loose shot outside the off-stump as he is beaten by Shami, who gets the ball to nip away.

The next ball is a bit straighter as Buttler turns it on the leg side for one and Stokes also takes one from the next.

Buttler then steers the last ball square on the off-side for a couple of runs.

A single each to Stokes and Buttler off Ashwin before the former pulls a short ball to deep midwicket for two runs.

Shami beats Buttler yet again with one that moves away as the right-hander has a poke before he takes one from the fifth ball.

However, Buttler and Stokes keep the scoreboard with two singles off the last two balls of the over.

In the next over, Stokes sweeps Ashwin fine on the leg side for two runs followed by a single in the next over from Shami.

Indi have not let England off the hook with some disciplined bowling, not wanting to concede any boundaries, while also looking to pick up wickets constantly.

A single to Buttler off Ashwin takes England to 150 for five in 57 overs, to stretch the lead to 123 runs.

Ashwin gets some turn as Stokes gets the edge but it doesn't carry to slip before he is beaten off the last ball courtesy of some sharp turn for the off-spinner.

Ishant beats new man Jos Buttler outside the off-stump with one that holds its line before the next one comes in as the right-hander watchfully blocks it.

Buttler then gets an edge but it doesn't carry to the slips and goes through for a four. He clips the next ball through midwicket for three runs as England's lead goes past the 100-run mark. They would ideally like to add another 100 runs and leave India with a difficult chase.

Shami comes back and he tries the inswinger but it is too full and Buttler is able to clip it through midwicket for a four as England reach 134 for five, to take the lead to 107 runs.

Ashwin not making the same impression with the ball as Moeen did on the second day.

Michael Holding on commentary believes Ashwin is bowling too fast at the moment and hence he is not getting the same amount of turn.

Another quiet over from Ashwin with Stokes picking an easy single to square leg.

In the next over, Ishant floors Stokes with a swinging yorker but the leg before appeal is turned down. Ishant is convinced but Kohli doesn't want to take the review and rightly so as the ball had pitched outside the leg stump.

Stokes then takes a couple of steps down the pitch and slaps Ishant straight down the ground past mid-off for a four.

And England gift a wicket away as Root is run out for 48. Stokes had tapped the ball to mid-on who was quick to get to the ball and hit the stumps at the striker's end with Root way out of his crease.

That was a wicket out of nowhere for India and it is the key wicket of England captain.

The hosts are in trouble on 122 for five in 46 overs, with a lead of 95 runs.

As expected, Ashwin is brought into the attack to replace Bumrah, who has bowled 13 overs so far.

Root is beaten outside the off-stump as he flirts with one outside the off-stump before he gets one off the next ball.

Ashwin drops short as Stokes pulls it through midwicket for three runs and Root gets two runs from the last ball to get six runs from the over.

Ishant beats Root with one that hold it's line as the England captain pokes and misses.

At the drinks break in the second session, England have reached 117 for four in 44 overs, with an overall lead of 90 runs.

Joe Root has batted patiently to score 48, while Stokes is also content to bat defensively to score seven.

Ben Stokes will once again look to bat with caution, atleast at the start of his innings, and provide support to his captain Root.

Shami gets the ball to nip in but this time Root is in position to clip it through square leg for a four to take his score to 40.

Two balls later, he slaps it through the covers for a couple and then plays out the rest of the over.

Stokes comes down the track to Bumrah but fails to flick it on the leg side and is struck on the pads but the LBW appeal is turned down.

Shami gets some late away movement as Root is beaten outside the off-stump before he takes a single off the next ball.

The Indian pacers are bowling their heart out, bowling at full steam, as they keep attacking in their quest to keep chipping away at the wickets.

But Kohli might be pondering over bringing back Ashwin, especially with Stokes out in the middle.

Bumrah bowls a beauty to Stokes, as the left-hander defends away from his body but the ball passes close to the edge. The wicketkeeper has not appealed and even the bowler is not sure but captain Kohli is convinced there was an edge but thankfully he doesn't take the review as the UltraEdge shows nothing.

Ishant comes back, replacing Shami, who bowled a fiery spell on either side of lunch and picked up two wickets in the process.

Root picks a single off the fourth ball as England reach 108 for four in 40 overs, for an overall lead of 81 runs.

Shami strikes with the very first delivery after the lunch break, with the wicket of Jonny Bairstow, who is bowled for a duck.

Two wickets in two balls for Shami on either side of the lunch interval, to leave him with the chance of claiming a hat-trick.

Shami beat through Bairstow's defences with a beautiful inswinger as the ball sneaks in through the gap between bat and pad and crashes into the stumps.

Bumrah also makes it three in three balls for India. Joe Root is beaten by the incoming delivery and hit on the pads but the umpire turns down the LBW appeal. That was mighty close!

Root having problems with the inswinging delivery from Bumrah but he he manages to clip the fourth ball square on the leg side for a single.

Shami's double strike has given India the edge as England are reduced to 99 for four in 34 overs, with a lead of 72 runs and just six wickets in hand.

The key wicket for India will be England captain Root, who has scored 36 so far and looks keen to bat for a long time.

Mohammed Shami dismissed Keaton Jennings at the stroke of lunch to reduce England to 92 for three at lunch on Day 3 of the fourth Test.

Jennings made 36 before he was trapped leg before wicket off the final delivery of the morning session.

Captain Joe Root was unbeaten on 30, as England went into the lunch interval with a lead of 65 runs and seven wickets in hand.

It was Jasprit Bumrah, who made the first breakthrough for India, with the wicket of Alastair Cook, who was caught by KL Rahul at second slip for 12.

Moeen Ali was promoted to No. 3 but the move failed to work as he was brilliantly caught in the slips by Rahul off Ishant Sharma.

India's bowlers once again impressed as they kept chipping away at the wickets to give their team a slight edge at the end of the morning session.

India will need to continue their wicket ways after lunch, while England would be hoping for a big knock from their captain Root.

Root plays a strange shot as he tries to turn Ashwin from outside the off-stump to the leg side but misses and is hit on the pads. India appeal for leg before which is turned but they decide against the DRS with the impact well outside the line.

Root has another close shave in the next over. After punching Shami down the ground for a four he is beaten by one which nips in sharply but the impact is too high to save the England captain.

A single each to Root and Jennings as the duo raise the 50-run stand for the third wicket from 84 balls.

Ashwin looking for a change of angle as he switches to over the wicket to Jennings, but the left-hander clips it off his pads for a single.

Root gets an edge off the third ball which fetches him three runs to thirdman.

Ashwin bowling outside the leg stump to Jennings, who is happy to just block everything.

Jennings gets a thick outside edge off Shami as the ball races past the slips for a four.

Shami makes the breakthrough next ball at the stroke of lunch with the wicket of Jennings, who is trapped leg before wicket.

Jennings has a chat with his captain before deciding to take the review. The impact is in line and going on hit the stumps as India claim the wicket while England lose a review.

Jennings taking a few chances against India's number one spinner Ashwin. He plays the reverse sweep, hitting the off-spinner, behind point for a four. Jennings then plays the conventional sweep off the next ball for another boundary.

He goes for the sweep yet again but this time he miscues it on the leg side and manages to clear the fielder at short fine leg for a couple of runs.

Bumrah gets the ball to move late as he bowls it down the leg side and it keeps going, beating the dive from wicketkeeper Pant for four byes.

Ashwin bowls a rank loose delivery, full and on the leg stump as Root sweeps it for a boundary as the India captain keeps growing in confidence with time spent at the crease.

Mohammed Shami comes into the attack for the first time in the innings, to bowl the 26th over, replacing Bumrah, who has taken one for 31 in nine overs.

Jennings picks a single off the third ball before Root is beaten off the next.

Ashwin producing some very good deliveries in between as Jennings is beaten all ends up by one that turns big but he manages to see of the over.

In the next over, Root slashes a wide delivery from Shami through point for a four to take his score into the 20s as England reach 75 for two in 28 overs, for a lead of 48 runs.

Jennings drives Bumrah on the off-side for a single before new batsman Joe Root is beaten by one which nips in sharply.

Ishant tries a short ball to Jennings who pulls it to fine leg for a single before Root taps the next ball on the off-side for one to get off the mark.

A second official warning for Ishant for running on to the pitch on his follow through as he bowls from round the wicket to Jennings.

Another warning and he won't be allowed to bowl in this innings.

Ashwin comes back into the attack following the drinks break. Root clips the second ball through midwicket for a couple before he attempts a reckless slog sweep off the last ball and fails to make proper connection.

Root trying to break Ashwin's rhythm as the off-spinner gets some big turn, bowling in the rough outside the right-hander's off-stump.

Change of ends for Bumrah as he replaces Ishant from the other end. The third ball is down the leg side as Jennings glances it fine for a four.

Ashwin bowls it a bit wide as Root steers it past point for two runs before he takes one to the man in the deep and Jennings manages to play the reest of the over.

Root is beaten by the inswinging delivery from Bumrah which nips him sharply and strikes him high on the pads. The Indians all go up in appeal but the umpire is not interested and Kohli goes for the DRS. But the ball is bouncing over the stumps as India end up losing their review.

The last ball is a touch short as Root punches it past point for a four to take England past the 50-run mark.

Ishant continues to step on to the danger area and he gets an official warning from the umpire.

Bumrah making things happen as Moeen gets a thick outside edge which goes on the bounce to the fielder who is stationed halfway down to the thirdman boundary.

Two balls later he gets another thick edge which goes past the slips for a boundary and Moeen keeps strike with a single from the last ball to square leg.

Ishant tries a bouncer to Moeen who is happy to duck under it. He tries a full delivery which nips in sharply to hit him high on the pads. The next ball goes away as Moeen is beaten outside the off-stump.

Ishant then produces another beautiful delivery, on the stumps and moving away as Moeen gets the edge and Rahul does well to take a low catch to his right, picking it inches off the ground.

The umpire refers it to the TV umpire with a soft signal OUT, who is having a close look at the replay. And the third umpire is happy with the replays and confirms that Rahul has taken it cleanly.

The experiment to promote Moeen has failed as he walks back for nine with England reduced to 33 for two in the 16th over.

India will need a couple of early wickets with the new ball in the first hour or else it will be difficult later on when the ball gets a bit older on a pitch which looks quite good for batting today.

A single to Jennings off Ashwin before the two England openers take a single each off Ishant in the next over to take the score to 16 for no loss in 10 overs.

Ashwin is replaced by Jasprit Bumrah as India look desperate to make a breakthrough.

Cook turns the first ball on the leg side for one before Jennings gets a thick outside edge which goes past the slips for a four.

Two balls later, Bumrah gets one to move away slightly as Jennings is beaten as he pokes outside the off-stump.

England's openers doing a good job as they play out the new ball and lay the foundation for the rest of the batsmen.

Ishant not getting any movement as Cook can easily clip a delivery off the stumps through midwicket for a couple and then takes one off the fifth ball.

It is Bumrah who makes the breakthrough with the wicket of Cook caught in the slips for 12. Cook went for the drive but got an edge which was taken by KL Rahul at second slip after a couple of juggles.

Moeen Ali promoted to No. 3 in place of Joe Root, who has struggled with the bat.

He gets a cracking delivery first up, the incoming ball from Bumrah which cuts Moeen into the half and he is lucky that it went over the stumps. The next ball moves away as Moeen is late in getting his bat out of the way as ends up steering it to the slips on the bounce, as Rahul dives across but is unable to stop the boundary.

The next ball is again a beautiful outswinger as Moeen commits to the drive and is beaten again.

Ravichandran Ashwin opens the bowling for India on Day 3 with a relatively new ball, which is just four overs old.

Cook defends the first two balls before he is beaten by one which turns sharply and goes past the edge.

Cook takes a single off the fifth ball before Jennings gets one which turns big and he does well to back out from the shot at the last minute.

A good start from Ashwin to begin the day for India, the pitch does look very promising for him.

Ishant Sharma from the other end. After the first two balls, he switches to round the wicket but Cook is easily able to play out the over.

Umpire Bruce Oxenford checking Ishant's landing especially the second step when he gets into the danger area. He got a warning too in the first innings.

In the next over, Jennings slaps a wide delivery from Ashwin through the covers for two runs. The last ball beats Jennings as he is hit on the pads but the impact is too high to be ruled leg before.

No evidence of swing for the fast bowlers on a bright sunny day. Ishant tries a full delivery as Cook clips it through midwicket for a four.

Welcome to the coverage of Day 3 of the fourth Test between India and England in Southampton on Saturday.

It was a thrilling day of Test cricket on Friday when both England and India staged fightbacks to leave the match nicely poised.

Cheteshwar Pujara carved out one of his finest Test hundreds, a knock punctuated by a mix of trademark tenacity and grace, as India eked out a slender 27-run first innings lead.

Owing to the 30-year-old's unbeaten 132, his first century outside the sub-continent since 2013, India recovered from a precarious 195 for eight to go past England and finish on 273 in their first innings.

England, who were bowled out for 246 in their first innings, finished the second day at six for no loss in their second innings to trail by 21 runs.

Earlier, India slumped from 161 for four to 195 for eight in the final session of play, with off-spinner Moeen Ali doing the bulk of damage.

At 142-2 India were well-placed to build a healthy first innings lead having bowled England out for 246 but Sam Curran took the vital wicket of Virat Kohli before off-spinner Ali ripped through the middle order with a stunning spell.

All-rounder Moeen was recalled to the side after a five-month absence and he more than justified that decision with figures of five for 63 to drag his side back into the match.

The off-spinner struck with the last ball before tea to dismiss Rishabh Pant for a 29-ball duck.

He removed Hardik Pandya after the interval before bowling Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami with consecutive balls in his next over.

Sharma (14) provided good support for Pujara before becoming Moeen's fifth wicket when Cook took a juggling bat-pad catch at short leg.