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AHMEDABAD, India, Tuesday (Reuters) Leg-spinner Anil Kumble tore through the England top-order to claim five for 80 before the touring side fought back to share the honours on a day of fluctuating fortunes in the second test on Tuesday.

Kumble, who set up India's 10-wicket win in the first test last week, grabbed his second successive five-wicket haul -- 19th in tests -- to put India on top after a 124-run opening partnership between left-handers Marcus Trescothick (99) and Mark Butcher (51).

England, though, recovered from 180 for five to 277 for six wickets at stumps, Craig White (42 not out) and James Foster (15 not out) adding 38 for the seventh wicket.

England need to avoid defeat to salvage the three-test series.

England skipper Nasser Hussain won the toss on a pitch which looked good for batting but was expected to deteriorate fast and help the spinners.

But Kumble -- who took his first five wickets for 56 runs in a marathon unchanged 25-over spell -- grabbed three wickets in the space of 10 balls without conceding a run soon after tea.

He removed both openers and later trapped Hussain leg before for one besides claiming Michael Vaughan (11) and Andrew Flintoff (0) cheaply. Mark Ramprakash (37) and Craig White then put on 59 runs for the sixth wicket to stage the revival.

Two of England's dismissals were debatable, though. Hussain went lbw to a ball that looked like going down the leg side while Vaughan was ruled caught at forward short leg without appearing to get a nick. 

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