Liam Dawson bagged a piece of English cricket history as his unbeaten half-century underpinned the tourists' revival on the way to 477 all out on day two of the fifth Test against India.

Dawson (66 not out), hit on the helmet by the second ball he faced from Ishant Sharma, displayed the battling qualities - and sound technique - for which he was chosen here as a spinning all-rounder as he and Adil Rashid (60) shared a much-needed eighth-wicket stand of 108.

The number eight was not done either until he had overhauled Darren Gough's previous highest score of 65 by any England debutant batting below seven.

He is also believed to be Hampshire's highest-scoring homegrown England Test debutant.

England had been in danger of frittering away their advantage after they faltered from a start-of-play 282 for four to 321 for seven - including the wicket of centurion Moeen Ali (146) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

But Dawson and Rashid reacted admirably to a pressure situation, digging in to frustrate the hosts before lunch and then gradually upping the tempo.

Dawson's share brought him a 121-ball 50, with four fours, completed soon after Rashid's dismissal - caught behind trying to force Umesh Yadav away off the back foot one run short of equalling his career-best.

The Yorkshireman had begun cautiously, with just eight runs from 55 deliveries at lunch, but began to find the gaps off the spinners with his trademark wristy flicks and back-cuts to reach his 141-ball half-century with a cover-drive for his seventh boundary.

Moeen was earlier able to add only 26 to his overnight total, and Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler mustered just 11 between them.

England's eventful morning began with Stokes' dismissal in the first over, pushing forward with his bat well away from his pad and edging behind to Ravi Ashwin.

Buttler never looked comfortable before playing across a straight one from Ishant to go lbw.

Dawson was then given his early welcome to Test cricket when he ducked into an Ishant bouncer, and immediately needed a new helmet.

Ishant and Umesh tested both batsmen with the short ball.

Moeen's resolve was to hook and pull, and Dawson's to duck and weave - and it was the senior batsman's policy which backfired when he mistimed one into the hands of deep midwicket off Umesh.

Moeen had batted for more than six hours, since coming in at 21 for two the previous morning, and hit 13 fours and a six from 262 balls.

England, however, still needed a little more to be sure of halting the India juggernaut which has already sealed the series with an unassailable 3-0 lead going into this final Test - and it came in an unlikely but sterling partnership.

Dawson remained unbeaten too, after Stuart Broad was sent back for a possible third to fine-leg, and then Jake Ball, bowled aiming a big hit at Amit Mishra - leaving 20 overs of batting for India up to stumps.