England batsman Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott showed patience and persistence to bat through the opening session on day three of the third Test.
Cook quickly brought up his seventh Test score of 150 when he punished a short ball from Zaheer Khan through midwicket.
In the process of making an impressive score the England captain also brought up a further personal milestone, becoming only the third English batsman to reach 500 runs during a tour of India.
Trott got in on the act just 15 minutes later when he went past 50 to notch his 13th Test half-century.
India were left to rue a missed opportunity before the break when Ishant Sharma dropped a simple catch after Cook returned the ball back into his grasp.
England survived an lbw appeal against Trott to reach lunch on 296-1 and keep their hopes of a victory firmly alive.
