England started the final day of the fourth Test against India on the brink of recording their first series victory in the country for 27 years.
Jonathan Trott (143) and Ian Bell (116*) both reached three figures on what turned out to be a comfortable day for the tourists in Nagpur.
Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Trott shortly before tea to claim the only wicket of the day but Bell and Joe Root (20*) continued to punish the bowlers in the final session.
The match was eventually declared a draw with both sides agreeing that no other result was possible an hour before the scheduled close of play.
Read below to find out how England secured the historic series victory.
Welcome to today's coverage. Are England fans about to see their side triumph in India for the first time since 1985? A stubborn day of batting yesterday. means that a draw is the most likely result. A 2-1 series win will certainly allow Alastair Cook to enjoy the mince pies a little bit more this Christmas.
The tourists lead by 165 at the start of the final day of the series. Surely India can't pull of an astonishing fightback today, can they? If they do, it will be a day full of drama. Either way, you can follow the over by over coverage here.
Jimmy Anderson spoke yesterday about just how important the first hour is this morning and you feel that he could be right. A dominant session from England will likely end India's hopes of a dramatic revival.
Is it possible that today will be the final time we see Sachin Tendulkar in international cricket? The legendary batsman may retire following his poor run of form over the last couple of years. One thing is for sure, if he does call it a day at the end of this Test, it will be the end of Indian's greatest ever player's career.
The players have completed their final preparations and we're ready to begin. It will be Jadeja who opens the bowling this morning.
We could be seeing Trott block a lot of balls today. A flick to square leg midway through the over brings England's number three a single before Bell treats us to some more defensive shots.
The second new ball is due and Ishant Sharma is into the attack to take it immediately.
Good start from Ashwin with the new cherry but Trott does well to keep out a couple of fuller deliveries. A punch through mid-wicket allows Trott to collect three runs. Sharma oversteps the mark later in the over, resulting in a no ball.
Jadeja does continue with the new ball. Trott fails to work the ball past fine leg with a nudge off the pads and overall it's a good over from the spinner. First maiden of the day.
Beautiful shot from Bell as he sends the ball racing to the boundary rope with a perfectly timed cover drive. A powerful pull shot only brings Trott adds another run with a push to third man.
Jadeja hits Trott on the pads but the ball is certainly going past leg-side and umpire Dharmasena quickly shakes his head. Great looking shot from the same batsman as he ends the over with a punch past mid-on for four runs.
Bell excites the Indian fielders when he almost edges the ball to the waiting hands of Dhoni early on in the over. England's number five does edge it a couple of balls later but it drops well short of Sehwag at slip. Bell then adds to India's misery by hitting a powerful pull shot to the mid-wicket boundary.
Decent over from Jadeja and he almost sneaks the ball through Trott's defence with one that keeps slightly low. It's another maiden from the spinner.
Sharma's stint with the new ball hasn't lasted long and it's Ojha who comes on to replace him. Bell can't punish the new bowler's first ball, smashing a full toss straight to Kohli at cover. No runs in the over, good start from Ojha.
Jadeja's good over is ruined when Trott drives the ball wide of Ashwin at mid-on to reach the boundary rope again. Encouraging signs for England this morning.
Top quality cricket from Bell as he takes a big lunge forward to sweep the ball to fine leg or four runs. Good response from Ojha but once again, there just isn't any spin.
Trott leaves the ball well outside off stump at the beginning of Jadeja's new over. When he does play at a similar delivery, the spinner beats the outside edge with one that just holds its line. Maiden over.
Ojha races through another over, with the only blemish being a single to square leg from Bell.
Ashwin begins his first spell of the day, bowling round the wicket to Bell. Not much turn from out there either and Bell takes advantage of a full delivery by driving the ball straight down the ground for four runs. That's the 100 partnership between this pair. England in complete control.
Ojha delivers five dot balls in a row but an elegant flick to mid-wicket for three prevents the spinner from closing out another maiden over.
The angle from round the wicket encourages Trott to hang his bat outside off stump but Ashwin can't find the outside edge. There is some turn for the spinner later in the over but Trott nudges the ball to square leg for a single before Bell adds two more runs with a push through the covers.
Trott pushes Ojha's first ball onto the leg-side for a single but there's little room for Bell to manoeuvre. England's now lead by 205 runs.
Ashwin strays onto the pads again, allowing Trott to clip the ball away for a single before a similar delivery gives Bell the chance to rotate the strike again. Trott finds the gap at mid-wicket but his punch shot only brings two runs.
Bell moves to 46 with a nudge onto the leg-side. Trott middles an whip off his toes but he can't beat Pujara at mid-wicket. Good over from Ojha and it's time for a drinks break.
A paddle sweep from Bell brings him a single and he's now three runs short of a half century. India look relaxed in the field this morning but probably because they are resigned to defeat now. Ashwin can't quite find the correct line so far and Trott has two more with a slight touch to fine leg.
Ojha races through another over and it's a maiden. Bell is playing his best cricket of the series in this innings but he's in desperate need of a big score.
Trott is into the nineties with a clip to fine leg before Bell finishes the over with some stubborn defending. India facing a long day in the field but Dhoni may want to stay out there. The full inquest into this likely series defeat will take place immediately.
Ojha is wide at the beginning of the over but the off-side is packed with fielders and Trott fails to find the gap with a drive. He does with a punch through mid-wicket, picking up four runs in trademark fashion.
Brilliant from Bell as he reaches his half century with a perfectly placed on-drive, prompting a standing ovation from the England dressing room. A single follows to make it five from the over.
Chawla is into the attack for the first time this morning and he is lucky when a half-tracker is only sent to the point boundary for a single by Bell. It's a good start from the wrist spinner but he doesn't look much of a threat on this pitch.
Bell blocks out a maiden from Ashwin, whose face tells a tale of misery from an Indian perspective. Very comfortable session for England.
Chawla delivers a wide half volley and Trott accepts the gift by driving through the off-side for four runs. A punch through mid-wicket brings another boundary and that is the century for Trott. Superb innings from England's number three and he'll end a difficult series on a high. Bell picks up four runs from the final ball with an inside edge through the legs of Dhoni. 13 from Chawla's over.
Ashwin starts the over with three dot balls but Trott then gets off strike with a clip through the leg-side. Bell will keep the strike for the next over following a well placed single past point. India must be looking forward to lunch.
Much improved over from Chawla and it's a maiden from the spinner, thanks to some good fielding by Gambhir at point.
Good running from the England duo as Trott earns a single with a prod in front of square leg. Bell rotates the strike again with a push to mid-on before Trott adds another run from the final. It feels like India are just going through the motions now and in truth, it would have taken something extraordinary for them to earn a victory today.
Massive appeal from India when Chawla beats the bat of Trott. There is a noise but replays suggest that it was the pad and an lbw decision would have been harsh. Umpire Tucker shakes his head and it's a maiden.
Chawla delivers an uneventful over, with Bell blocking easily before lunch. A nudge to fine leg brings a couple of runs and that's the end of the session.
Lunch: Job done for England this morning. A session without a wicket falling is exactly what the doctor ordered and a series victory is now all but confirmed. Trott has 106 while Bell has found some form with an unbeaten 61.
We'll take a quick break during lunch but be sure to return in around 30 minutes when England will hope to pile the misery on India.
Welcome back. It's been 27 long years since England won a series in India but in a few short hours, the tourists will surely be celebrating in Nagpur.
India will want to end the match on a high note before the inevitable outcries of the nation's public begins. Is Dhoni's place as captain under threat? Will Tendulkar retire? Plenty of questions to be answered after this series.
The players are back out of the dressing rooms and it will be Chawla who takes the ball at the start of the session.
Wow, what a gift from Chawla. The wrist spinner begins with a juicy full toss and Trott can't believe his luck as he hammers the ball to the mid-wicket boundary rope. Three more runs follow with a nudge into the gap on the leg-side.
If the match carries on at this rate, a draw can be agreed between the two sides an hour before the scheduled close of play. So, there could be just three more hours left in this Test series.
Trott gets off strike early in Ojha's over with a push to point but Bell can't find any gaps in the field when he is on strike. Just nothing happening for these bowlers.
Trott plays a superb drive when Chawla goes wide again but the ball goes straight to Pujara at cover. A nudge into the gap on the off-side brings the Warwickshire ace a single and that's the only blemish on the over.
England are cruising here as Trott clips the ball to square leg for a single. Bell showcases some more of his defensive shots before mistiming a cut to third man from the final ball to keep the strike.
Bell misses out on a boundary when he fails to make contact while attempting to pull a half-tracker from Chawla. The England duo trade singles to add to their brilliant partnership.
Ojha breezes through a maiden over but he's far too wide to threaten Trott and is lucky not to see the ball race to the boundary when the batsman hits a drive straight to Pujara at cover.
Great technique shown by Bell as he rocks onto the back foot to punish a short ball from Chawla with a cut for four runs. An even better shot follows when the same batsman drives the ball wide of mid-off to find the boundary rope again.
Trott gets off strike at the start of Ojha's new over but it's a good one from the spinner and Bell is happy to defend outside his off stump.
Far better over from Chawla as he refuses to offer any gifts to either batsman and even finds some turn but it's too wide to worry Bell. Just a single scored by Trott.
Trott once again walks to the non-striker's end following a nudge to mid-wicket before Bell moves to 72 from the final ball with a hurried single to mid-off.
Very elegant from Bell as he whips the ball off his toes to earn a couple of runs through the mid-wicket region but his charge his halted for a moment when Kohli superbly blocks the ball at cover.
Ashwin is forced to do the chasing when Trott pushes the ball through the leg-side for three runs. Not much else in the over, this partnership is now worth 176.
The ball keeps very low midway through Chawla's over but it's far too wide to spell the end for Trott. The spinner is too full once again and Trott opens the face to guide the ball to the third man boundary rope.
The England players all seem to be enjoying a cup of tea on the balcony but I think the beverages will be slightly different in a couple of hours. Maiden over from Ojha, it feels like watching a net session at the moment.
Chawla looks frustrated as he beats Trott's outside edge by the smallest of distances. The same batsman hammers covers drives in successive deliveries but picks out Pujara at cover on both occasions. It's another maiden and the drinks are coming onto the field once again.
Another ridiculously long drinks break comes to an end and Ojha continues his spell. Bell gets off strike early with a single to bring his Warwickshire teammate to the crease. Trott gets out his favourite shot again, flicking the ball through mid-wicket for three runs.
Chawla continues and Trott takes a single to square leg early in the over. Bell fails to take advantage of a poor short ball, cutting the ball straight to Gambhir on the off-side. Big turn towards the end of the over for Chawla but Bell somehow manages to not edge the ball to Dhoni.
Trott's signature shot is showcased once again as he punches the ball to the mid-wicket boundary rope to leave Ojha looking exhausted. No more flair from England's number three as he defends the remainder of the over.
Chawla does have a tendency to deliver a boundary ball to ruin his over but this time he gets away with one as Bell fires the ball straight to Kohli at cover. Biggest chance of a wicket today as Bell sends an outside edge towards Sehwag at slip but the ball is put down and Chawla is left shaking his head at the bowler's end. It's a maiden over.
First bowling change for a while as Jadeja returns to replace Ojha. Trott finds the boundary rope again with a flick through the leg-side despite a valiant chase from Pujara. Too wide from Jadeja for there to be any threat to England's centurion.
Really good over from Chawla, who finds the slightest bit of drift. Bell defends well though and is more than happy to block before ensuring that he'll keep the strike with a single to fine leg.
Bell decides it's time for a bit of entertainment as he skips down the pitch to launch Jadeja over long-on for a big six. The partnership between this pair is now worth 200. It's a poor pitch but that's a great achievement.
Good over from Chawla but the maiden is ruined when Trott clips the ball through a gap on the leg-side for three runs. Some drinks come on for the batsmen, 20 minutes before tea, get on with it!
Great running from Trott as he pushes the ball to cover for a hurried single before Bell lofts the ball straight down the ground once again, this time for four runs. 300 is up for England.
Wicket! Trott (143) c Kohli b Ashwin
That's right, you read that last update correctly. India have taken a wicket! Ashwin returns and a delivery onto the pads is flicked straight to Kohli at leg-slip by a disappointed Trott. Superb innings but it comes to an end and it's Joe Root's turn to have a bat.
Root is off the mark immediately with a push through the covers for a single and Bell then adds another to the total with a prod to Sharma, who fields awkwardly at mid-off. Good over from Ashwin, with two runs and a wicket coming from it.
Jadeja continues and it's a very good maiden over. Root calls a single following a nudge from Bell onto the leg-side but Bell won't be taking any risks on 87.
Root may be thinking it's time for a bit of fun. England's new boy hits his first six in Test match cricket with a huge slog-sweep towards the end of Ashwin's over. Although he was very defensive in the first innings, the Yorkshire ace can certainly hit the ball a long way.
Ashwin does well at cover, falling to the ground in stages to stop Bell getting off strike. Textbook defence from England's batsman and it's a maiden.
Another over races by and it's a maiden from Ashwin. No slog sweeps from Root this time and it's the end of the session.
Tea: The players walk off following another session of superiority from England's batsmen. Trott's dismissal is a rare highlight for India but Bell looks odds-on to record his century after the break.
Bell's innings may have come when the pressure has been taken away but for him, this knock is vital. There have been reports that his place in the team is under threat but three figures after tea should silence his doubters for a while.
Just a reminder, the two teams can agree on the draw at 9.50am as far as we know and that is a likely outcome given the state of this match.
Cook must be itching for this match to finish so he can celebrate his first series victory as full-time captain and what a place to mark that achievement. England don't win in India but they have and their performances have been superb.
It's Jadeja who continues his spell following the last break of the series. The spinner finds the inside edge of Bell but luckily for the England batsman, the ball deflects away to safety. Maiden over.
No change from Dhoni as Ashwin begins a new over. If you wanted to teach someone how to play a forward defence, you'd show them a picture of Root. Five blocks are followed by a single to square leg and he'll keep the strike.
Root opens the face to earn two runs to third man midway through Jadeja's over. No more runs and India look like they want this to be finished now.
Decent over from Ashwin and he even finds some big spin late on. Bell deals with the turn well, clipping the ball to fine leg before Root adds another run with a nudge onto the leg-side.
Very nice line from Jadeja but Root uses his feet very well throughout to defend just outside off stump.
Bell moves to within 11 of his century with a push to cover, Root defends the remaining four balls of the over and he'd love a not out to end his debut Test match.
Jadeja quickly chalks up another maiden over and it looks like Bell is just waiting for a bad ball to hit to the boundary. Could be just 30 minutes until the close of play.
Root gets off strike at the beginning of Ashwin's new over before Bell does well to clip a spinning delivery to square leg for two runs. One more single follows and Bell is now unbeaten on 92.
Root's moves to 12 with a push through the covers for three runs before resorting back to stubborn defensive shots. Just nothing happening for India.
Bell starts Jadeja's new over with a couple of runs through the off-side before rushing another single with a prod through Pujara's legs at short-leg. Replays show that Bell would have been out had Kohli hit the stumps with the throw. Great improvisation from Root as he drops to one knee to reverse sweep the ball to the boundary rope.
A single to mid-wicket sees Bell move to 99 before Root opens the face slightly to run a couple to third man. Bell will be on strike for the next over.
Bell defends early in the over but when Jadeja strays onto the pads, a whip to square leg allows the England duo to run three. That is Bells's century and he is rightly given a standing ovation by the England dressing room. Big innings in more than one way for Bell.
You know we're coming to the end of a Test when Gautam Gambhir is given a bowl. Bell pushes the ball away early on for a single and Root looks in no mood to get out to the part-time slow bowler, defending five deliveries in a row.
Bell takes advantage of a half volley from Ashwin to drive the ball powerfully through extra cover for a boundary early in the over. Another full delivery is sent to the rope, this time much straighter from Bell and Ashwin is definitely tiring. One more boundary in the over with Bell flicking the ball off his pads to fine leg.
Gambhir shows us why he's a part-time bowler with a loopy full toss but Root can only pick up a single to long-off before a nudge to square leg from Bell adds another run to the meaningless team total. One more single follows and this could be the final over of the series.
Match ends as a draw. England win Test series 2-1.
Dhoni confronts the umpires and they agree that it's time for the series to end. What a moment for Cook and his men. High fives and hugs everywhere to be seen on the England balcony.
England were berated for that humiliating defeat in Ahmedabad but to come from behind and secure a series victory on the subcontinent tells us a lot about this team.
The critics will have a field day in India as their poor run of form over the last couple of years continues. Is it time for an overhaul of the squad? Will Dhoni remain as captain as the Test squad? Plenty of questions to be answered following this defeat.
For the first time since 1985 an England Test squad will fly back from India on the back of a series triumph. Cook's passes his first assignment as full-time captain with flying colours and there are so many positives for the tourists.
Thanks for enjoying this enthralling Test series with the team at Sports Mole. There's more cricket to come with the first Twenty20 international taking place on Thursday but for now, it's goodbye from us.
