London, Sept 08: Rahul Dravid struck his third century in as many innings as the `big three` clicked in unison once again to place India at a comfortable 315 for four on the third day of the fourth and final cricket Test against England here yesterday. Dravid, who scored 115 and 148 in his two previous knocks, played a familiar sheet-anchor role to perfection and was still unbeaten on 131 when bad light stopped play about seven overs before scheduled close.

Sachin Tendulkar, playing his 100th Test, and captain Sourav Ganguly chipped in with a half-century each as India, resuming at their overnight 66 for one, scored 249 runs in the day for the loss of three wickets replying to England`s first innings score of 515. V V S Laxman, who missed out on big scores in the last couple of matches, was batting on 14 at stumps.

Dravid became the fifth Indian to score successive centuries in three innings. Sunil Gavaskar, who has achieved the feat twice, Vijay Hazare, Polly Umrigar and Vinod Kambli are the other Indians in the distinguished list of 23 players to have scored three or more centuries in consecutive innings.

Dravid batted throughout the day for his 13th Test hundred and is now just eight runs short of completing 1000 runs this calendar year. Bureau Report