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Indian opener KL Rahul and captain Shubman Gill were the heroes for India on day four in Manchester after a superb third-wicket stand gave the visitors hope of saving the fourth Test.
England started the fourth day at Old Trafford in a very strong position, looking to build their first-innings lead after a superb 150 from Joe Root had put them in control on day three.
Resuming on 544/7 in response to India's 358, and with captain Ben Stokes closing in on a century, England set about their task with ruthless efficiency.
Stokes passed three figures with ease despite the early loss of Liam Dawson, and with Brydon Carse providing support, the duo would combine for a brutal 105-run partnership that finally ended when Stokes was caught by Sai Sudharsan at long-on for 141.
By the time India finally claimed the last wicket - Carse dismissed for a superb 47 off 54 balls - England had made the highest ever Test total at Old Trafford - 669 all out - surpassing the previous highest score, Australia's 656 for 8 against England in 1964.
That left the visitors 311 runs in arrears - and with a little over five sessions to survive in order to save the Test match.
Hopes of a fightback faded fast as India's challenge got off to the worst possible start, with back-to-back wickets falling in the very first over. Tasked with seeing out just a few overs before lunch, they lost opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and No 3 Sai Sudharsan to successive deliveries from Chris Woakes - both caught in the slips without scoring - leaving the visitors reeling at 1 for 2 heading into the interval.
India looked dead and buried at that stage, but Rahul and Gill had other ideas. The pair batted superbly through the remainder of the day, surviving the entire second session and resuming after tea with equal composure, extending their stand to frustrate England's bowlers - and the Manchester crowd.
By the time the umpires called stumps, Shubman and Gill had combined for a stand of over 150 runs to leave the visitors on 174/2 heading into the final day, still trailing by 137 but in with a real chance of keeping the series alive.
Opener Gill will resume on 78 on Sunday morning, with Gill resuming on 87 - 13 shy of his century - as India look to complete a famous escape on day five.
