Ton-up Pietersen keeps England on top

Dhoni surprises all, attacks with deceptive medium-pacers.

LONDON:


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.


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, 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 wicket-keeping duties to Rahul Dravid.


Then 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 reversed 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 Sharma 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.

This match is the 2,000th Test of all-time and the 100th between England and India. If England win this four-match series by two Tests they will replace India at the top of the Test rankings.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2011.
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