Pietersen keeps England on top
Kevin Pietersen’s unbeaten century was the cornerstone of England’s
305 for five against India at tea on the second day of the first Test at
Lord’s here on Friday.
South Africa-born Pietersen was 115 not out at the interval having
scored his 18th century in 75 Tests but only his second in 37 innings.
Matt Prior was unbeaten on 21.
But seamer Praveen Kumar, leading an attack depleted by the hamstring
strain suffered by left-arm quick Zaheer Khan on Thursday, ensured
England did not run away with the match thanks to a return of three for
85 in 34.3 overs — including two wickets for no runs in four balls.
England started the second session on 217 for three, with Pietersen
71 not out and Ian Bell 28 not out.
There was a surprise as India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni emerged
having handed the wicketkeeping duties to Rahul Dravid, who used to be
behind the stumps in one-day internationals.
Dhoni made his move as Zaheer remained in the dressing room, where
he’d been since a hamstring strain forced him off the field midway
through his 14th over on Thursday.
Now Dhoni bowled his deceptively useful medium-pacers ahead of the
new ball and celebrated when he had Pietersen ‘caught’ by Dravid for 73.
Billy Bowden gave Pietersen out but the batsman immediately called
for a review, and with Hot Spot technology showing no edge the New
Zealand umpire revered his original verdict.
India took the new ball with England 246 for three off 87 overs, with
Dhoni, after bowling five overs for 20 runs, reverting to keeping
wicket.
The 31-year-old Pietersen though completed a 216-ball hundred, his
fourth against India and fifth at Lord’s, when he on-drove Ishant in
style for his 10th boundary.
But Kumar dimissed Bell for 45 with a beauty that nipped off the seam
to take the edge, Dhoni’s low diving catch completing the dismissal.
That ended a stand of 110 and 270 for four became 270 for five when the
same combination got rid of Eoin Morgan for a duck. London, Friday (AFP)
ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS (overnight: 127-2)
A. Strauss c Sharma b Zaheer Khan 22
A. Cook lbw b Zaheer Khan 12
J. Trott lbw b Kumar 70
K. Pietersen not out 115
I. Bell c Dhoni b Kumar 45
E. Morgan c Dhoni b Kumar 0
M. Prior not out 21
Extras (b12, lb6, w1, nb1) 20
TOTAL (5 wkts, 103 overs, 482 mins) 305
Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Cook), 2-62 (Strauss), 3-160 (Trott), 4-270 (Bell), 5-270 (Morgan).
Bowling: Zaheer 13.3-8-18-2; Kumar 34.3-10-85-3; Sharma 24-4-83-0 (1w); Harbhajan 23-3-78-0; Dhoni 8-1-23-0 (1nb). |