England closed day two of their final warm-up match for the India Test series with a 349-run lead over Haryana in Ahmedabad.
However, a half-strength bowling attack could only take four wickets in the afternoon as the hosts put themselves in a good position to earn a draw.
Resuming on 408-3, Ian Bell and Samit Patel struck half-centuries and Matt Prior blasted 41 from 36 balls before leaving the field due to illness as England reached 521-9.
Tim Bresnan picked up the early wicket of Nitin Saini for 13 but a 97-run stand from Sunny Singh and Rahul Dewan frustrated England's attempts to make serious inroads.
Patel had Singh caught by Jonathan Trott for 55, before Bresnan and Monty Panesar collected a wicket apiece to peg back Haryana to 163-4.
Dewan continued his patient knock until close, finishing unbeaten on 77 to leave England requiring 14 wickets for victory on the final day.