Mumbai, March 20:

James Anderson celebrated his comeback with four wickets as England seized the initiative in the must-win third and final Test against India here on Monday.

Anderson also brought off a crucial run-out to strengthen his team’s chances of squaring the series. Wicket-keeper Geraint Jones also had a good match, taking three superb catches to finish with five victims. England lost Andrew Strauss and makeshift opener Ian Bell before reaching 31-2 in their second innings at stumps on the third day for an overall lead of 152. Debutant Owais Shah was unbeaten on 15 with Shaun Udal (two).

India were earlier bowled out for 279 in their first innings in reply to England’s 400. Strauss, who scored a century in the first innings, made four runs before being caught behind off seamer Munaf Patel and Bell scored eight before being held by wicket-keeper Mahendra Dhoni off Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

India were unlucky not the get one more wicket as Yuvraj Singh dropped nightwatchman Udal at third slip in the day’s last over.

England trail 1-0 in the series after suffering a nine-wicket defeat in the second Test at Mohali. The opening match ended in a draw at Nagpur. Anderson victims included captain Rahul Dravid (52) and Dhoni (64). He finished with 4-40 off 19.1 overs.

Dravid and Dhoni were the only specialist batsmen to offer resistance to England’s attack. England kept pressure on India from the beginning, with Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard testing the batsmen. Dhoni and Irfan Pathan (26) scored comfortably against Udal and left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, but the partnership was broken when they tried one shot too many.

Udal claimed his first wicket when he had Pathan caught by Hoggard at mid-off from a lofted drive. Dhoni smashed 10 fours in his second Test half-century before being given out by TV umpire K. Hariharan of India.

The Indian batting was entertaining in the closing session, with Anil Kumble (30) adding 55 for the ninth wicket with Sreesanth (29 not out). Their stand restricted England’s lead as the hosts were tottering at 217-8 at one stage.

Anderson ended the Indian innings when he bowled Patel for his fourth victim.

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND — 1st innings: 400

INDIA — 1st innings (overnight 89-3)

R Dravid c Jones b Anderson 52

Y Singh c Jones b Flintoff 37

M Dhoni run out 64

I Pathan c Hoggard b Udal 26

A Kumble lbw b Panesar 30

H Singh c Jones b Anderson 2

S Sreesanth not out 29

M Patel b Anderson 7

Extras: 14 (b4, lb7, nb3)

Total: 279

FoW: 1-9, 2-24, 3-28, 4-94, 5-142, 6-186, 7-212, 8-217, 9-272

England bowling: Hoggard 22-6-54-2, Flintoff 21-4-68-1, Anderson 19.1-8-40-4, Panesar 26-7-53-1, Udal 16-2-53-1

ENGLAND — 2nd innings

A Strauss c Dhoni b Patel 4

I Bell c Dhoni b Sreesanth 8

O Shah not out 15

S Udal not out 2

Extras: 2 (nb1, w1)

Total: 31/2

FoW: 1-9, 2-21

India bowling: Pathan 4-1-6-0, Patel 4-0-12-1, Sreesanth 4-1-10-1, Kumble 2-0-3-0, Harbhajan 1-1-0-0