Harbhajan warmed up for next week's third Test at Headingley with a seven-wicket haul as Essex were skittled for 279.

Sehwag also hit form at just the right time with 142 as India reached 231 for two at the close after choosing not to enforce the follow-on.

Sanjay Bangar also contributed with an unbeaten 73 and India look well placed to wrap up victory on the final day when they will resume with a 468-run lead.

Essex had been looking to Andy Flower to help them get within sight of India's first-innings total of 516 after he resumed on 45, he could only make 59 before Harbhajan found the outside edge and captain Sourav Ganguly held the catch at first slip.

By then Essex had already lost one wicket with Tim Phillips falling cheaply to Bangar in the fourth over of the day when an outside edge carried to VVS Laxman at second slip.

Flower was soon followed back to the pavilion by Jon Dakin with Harbhajan striking again thanks to Parthiv Patel's good work behind the stumps and, at 209 for six, Essex were rocking.

The lower order provided useful resistance but the 'Turbanator"s efforts ensured a steady fall of wickets. Ronnie Irani made 20 when he holed out to Ajay Ratra at long-on while Barry Hyam (12) and James Middlebrook (13) also reached double figures before they went leg before to Harbhajan.

Joe Grant livened things up with a quickfire 30 from 21 balls. He hit sixes off Harbhajan and Sehwag before the latter got his revenge to end the 32-run stand for the last wicket.

India elected to bat again but the decision to promote Patel to the top of the order failed to pay off as he made just a single before falling to Mark Ilott.

But Bangar and Sehwag formed a formidable second-wicket partnership, with Sehwag opening up after lunch to score at a rapid rate. He reached his century from 110 balls and hit five sixes during his chanceless innings, with two of them landing in the nearby River Can.

He eventually departed for 142 when an understandably tired shot gave Rav Bopara a straightforward caught and bowled and ended their 209-run stand.

Bangar played a more patient innings, taking 171 balls to reach his 73, but will look to complete his ton in the morning before India go in search of a morale-boosting victory.