Karun Nair hits triple century, India declare on 759-7

CHENNAI: Karun Nair cracked a brilliant triple century as India took total control against England in Chennai on Monday, posting their highest-ever Test score.

Right-hander Nair, who finished on 303 not out, reached the landmark with a boundary before India declared their first innings on a huge 759-7 for a lead of 282 in the fifth and final Test.

England ended the day on 12 without loss, with skipper Alastair Cook (three) and Keaton Jennings (nine) at the crease, and a day´s play still to survive to secure a draw.

The day belonged to 25-year-old Nair, who had previously never scored a century for India but batted through three sessions to frustrate England´s bowlers on a flat pitch.

Nair was playing in just the third Test match of his career. He recorded his maiden century in the morning session before expertly converting it into a double and then a triple in the evening.

He became only the third batsman to covert a maiden Test hundred into a triple century, joining the elite company of West Indies´ Garry Sobers (365 not out) and Australia´s Bob Simpson (311).

Nair´s knock came off 381 balls and was laced with 32 fours and four sixes. He reached the feat with a cut shot off Adil Rashid and raised his helmet to a standing ovation.

The triple ton came a day after teammate Lokesh Rahul missed 200 by a single run after getting out to Rashid on 199 in the final moments of play on Sunday.

Nair, who started the day on 71, shared three hundred-plus partnerships with Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin (67) and then Ravindra Jadeja (51).

His 181-run sixth-wicket partnership with Ashwin stood out as India registered their highest-ever innings score of 759, surpassing their 726 against Sri Lanka in December 2009.

Earlier in the day debutant England all-rounder Liam Dawson, who ended with two scalps, got his first Test wicket with his left-arm spin.

Dawson, who scored an unbeaten 66 in England´s first innings, pinned Murali Vijay in front of his stumps and he was given out lbw.

India have already secured the series with a 3-0 lead.