Live cricket score: England vs India, 4th Test, Day 3, India tour of England 2014

Heavy rain and a sodden outfield prevented England building a promising lead in the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford as play was abandoned. England were starting to push ahead confidently in the afternoon session of the second day and were leading by 85, with four first-innings wickets remaining, when a torrential downpour forced the players off. Large amounts of water collected on the outfield and although the weather improved considerably in the evening, groundstaff could not get the playing area sufficiently ready for play to resume. Play was abandoned for the day following an inspection at 5:40 PM.

England, after being troubled by India in the morning session, had been reasserting their grip on proceedings and were 237 for six with Joe Root unbeaten on 48. Root had shared an unbroken seventh-wicket stand with Jos Buttler, who was 22 not out. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Aaron bowled well on Day 2 and picked three wickets apiece before Root and Buttler put on a defiant partnership to deny Indians any further breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, Pankaj Singh found himself eyeing one of Test cricket's most unwanted records after a return of none for 79 in 17 overs on the second day. Pankaj currently has an overall Test record of none for 258. Only Bangladesh medium-pacer Anwar Hossain Monir, with none for 307 in three matches from 2003-2005, has conceded more runs without taking a Test wicket.

Root took little time to bring up yet another half-century. He was helped by Pankaj Singh, who bowled it down the leg side, and the batsman was happy to glance it for three runs to go past the 50-mark.

India opted for the second new ball as soon as it was due. Jos Buttler found the cover boundary off consecutive deliveries off Bhuvneshwar Kumar to take the lead past the 100-run mark. England also crossed 250 during the process.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was searching for his fourth wicket, was denied the breakthrough in the 83rd over when Virat Kohli put down a slightly tough chance at gully, giving Buttler a lucky break on 34. In Bhuvneshwar's next over, the England pair managed to run four after Root eased one past mid off, to bring up the century stand.

Varun Aaron's athleticism created another chance but India could not take it. Buttler going for a second was beaten by a sharp throw from Aaron from long leg. The batsman was well short but Dhoni failed to gather a regulation chance and gave Buttler a reprieve on 43.

After 415 balls in Test cricket, Pankaj Singh finally bagged a wicket and immediately broke out into a huge grin. There was generous applause at Old Trafford as well, partly for Root's fine innings and partly for Pankaj. The wicket itself was nothing spectacular. A shortish ball came towards Root's hip and the batsman gloved it down the legside to Dhoni. Rarely will such a dismissal be more memorable than this one that saw Pankaj's toil bearing fruit.

The old saying of one wicket brings two held good for Pankaj Singh. After bagging Root, he got the other set batsman as well with a good slower delivery. Buttler went for a drive but the change of pace did not allow him to control the shot. He ended up hitting straight to mid off.

England were still in command at lunch with 325/8, a lead of 173.

The post-lunch session started dramatically. Varun Aaron tested Broad with bouncers. The batsman managed to hit the first two for sixes but the third one was damaging. Broad tried to pull again but missed and the ball crashed straight into his face after sneaking through the helmet. Broad was down on his knees straightaway calling for the physio and when the helmet came off the sight became even more gory. Blood spilled onto the pitch and Broad's nose had been cut open. He was forced off the field and sent straight to the hospital to check for concussion or any other internal injury.

Jadeja won this round of the battle with Anderson when he had him LBW for 9. The ball was turning in and Anderson had walked across to play but missed. He was struck in front of middle and leg. The ball-tracker showed that it was clipping leg.

England finished with a lead of 215.