BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) -KL Rahul scored a half-century before Rishabh Pant literally threw his bat at everything as India moved on to 177-3 to stretch their commanding lead to 357 runs over England at lunch on day four of the second test at Edgbaston on Saturday.

The Indian wicketkeeper-batter walked in at 126-3 and immediately entertained the crowd, smashing sixes and boundaries before providing the day's most memorable moment when he lost his grip on his bat.

He sent his willow flying to square leg where it landed safely, much to the amusement of the Edgbaston crowd, but not the England bowlers who had a productive first hour before their momentum was halted.

Pant was unbeaten on 41 alongside skipper Shubman Gill (24 not out) at the interval, their quickfire partnership of 51 runs coming off 53 balls.

Resuming on their overnight 64-1, the morning session in overcast conditions with the floodlights on began with both Karun Nair and Rahul surviving early scares when thick edges flew through gaps in the slip cordon.

But Brydon Carse's persistence paid off when he tempted Nair into a drive and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith's eyes lit up when he took the catch to dismiss the Indian batter for 26.

Rahul remained patient and he continued to find gaps on the offside as he brought up his 18th test fifty, but Josh Tongue struck with a ball that seamed off the pitch to go past the Indian batter's defence and hit the stumps.

Tongue's delight was short-lived, however, as Pant walked in and unsettled the fast bowler with a boundary before he danced down the track to smash it over his head for six.

Pant survived when, on 10, he smashed the ball straight to mid off where Zak Crawley spilled the catch, and he made the bowlers pay with a flurry of fours and another six.

England won the first test at Headingley by five wickets.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)