Kumble surprises everyone by scoring his maiden ton

Anil Kumble scored a maiden Test century on Friday to spur India to 664 all out on the second day of the third and final Test and put his side within sight of their first series victory in England for 21 years.

England, trailing 1-0, were 24 for one at the close and now look certain to end an unbeaten home record stretching back to 2002. Andrew Strauss was the man to fall, caught at fine leg after top-edging a pull shot off Zaheer Khan for six.

Number eight batsman Kumble cracked an unbeaten 110 after wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had flayed the England bowlers for 92 from 81 balls. Sachin Tendulkar chipped in with 82 until he departed 10 minutes before lunch.

Kumble came in at the fall of Tendulkar's wicket and batted throughout the afternoon session and for most of the third session. His previous Test best was 88.

Kumble scored his maiden century, with an innings of 110 not out against England to help them finish with 664. He took 118 Test matches to reach his maiden test hundred, which is a record, beating Chaminda Vaas who had held this record previously with 96 tests. It was also the only hundred by an Indian in the 3 Test series.

Source: Wikipedia, thewest.com.au