RAHUL DRAVID came into bat at the stroke of first drinks interval, the 19th over of the innings and carried his bat through India's first innings, spending 334 minutes in all at the crease.
A cause of concern for India was the continued absence of paceman Zaheer Khan, who is suffering from a right hamstring strain, in the five overs of England batting before stumps.
Tailender Praveen Kumar contributed 17 runs of his own in a eighth wicket stand of 35 runs with Dravid, sometimes smashing the ball on the up and on other occasions backing away towards square leg and throwing his bat with gay abandon.
Kumar's luck ran out when Broad was again brought into attack. The tall quick bowlers sent down a sharp bouncer and the reflexive action of Kumar to hit it could only result in a lob for Strauss to run up behind his position at first slip and accept the chance.
Dravid was on 94 then and to partner him, injured Zaheer Khan emerged from the dressing room with runner Kumar in tow. The excitement was palpable but Dravid made sure the wait for his century was not long.
He first caressed a full-pitched Tremlett delivery to cover boundary and then flicked a shot to raise his century.
The end of India's innings though was near as Anderson first cleaned up Zaheer and after a while claimed Ishant Sharma caught behind the wicket to bring a lid on the visiting side's resistance.
Earlier, Tendulkar failed to notch up his 100th international century at the hallowed Lord's as he fell for 34, three runs short of his highest score at the 'home of cricket'.
A hush silence descended in the Indian camp even as the big crowd at the Lord's rose in standing ovation as Tendulkar made his way towards the dressing room.
