India strike back after Pietersen slams century

MOHALI (India), Dec 21: India dealt two late blows to leave England fighting for survival in the second Test on Sunday after Kevin Pietersen had lifted the tourists with a robust 144.

England, replying to India’s first innings total of 453, recovered from the perilous position of one run for two wickets to move to 280-4, before two quick wickets saw them end the third day’s play on a shaky 282-6.

Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, who put on 149 for the fifth wicket, departed in the last two overs of the day as the game swung India’s way.

England captain Pietersen was given out leg-before off Harbhajan Singh in the penultimate over, while Flintoff (62) edged a catch to short-leg off Amit Mishra from the final delivery of the day.

Nightwatchman James Anderson was unbeaten on one with England still trailing by 171 runs with four wickets in hand in a match they must win to draw the two-match series.

Pietersen came into bat after two wickets had fallen off the first seven deliveries of the innings and defied the Indians for almost the entire day while compiling his 15th Test century.

“It was frustrating to be out and lose those two wickets at the end,” he said.

“My decision could have gone either way. I thought it was going down leg and I would get the benefit of the doubt.

“If Flintoff and I had batted another session, we would have fought to win the game. India are in a better position now.”

India’s South African coach Gary Kirsten admitted relief at the dismissal of Pietersen and Flintoff.

“Those were very important wickets because Kevin played one of the great Test match knocks,” said Kirsten.

“Batting at such pace put pressure on us. We now need a few more quick wickets tomorrow so that we get time to bowl England out in the fourth innings.

“We will declare our second innings only if we are in a strong position, because we are leading in the series.”

Pietersen put on 103 for the third wicket with Alastair Cook (50), before the crucial century stand with Flintoff boosted the tourists, who lost the first Test in Chennai by six wickets.

The skipper’s defiant knock contained his trademark switch hit in which he changed to a left-hander’s stance as Harbhajan was running in to bowl and pulled the off-spinner for six.

The 45-Test veteran of South African origin completed 4,000 career runs when he reached 105, the third fastest to the mark for England after Herbert Sutcliffe (43 matches) and Len Hutton (44).

When Pietersen moved to 129, he achieved the rare feat of scoring 1,000 runs in a calendar year for the third successive time.

England’s innings was delayed by 90 minutes due to dense fog in the morning, but few had bargained for the drama to follow.

Andrew Strauss, who hit a century in each innings in Chennai, lasted only three deliveries as left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan claimed him leg-before with a ball that swung late.

Ishant Sharma then bowled Ian Bell with the first ball of the second over, uprooting the middle stump as the batsman played a lazy defensive shot.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni stunned onlookers by bringing on part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh for the third over of the match to bowl to Pietersen.

Yuvraj, who had dismissed the England captain in Chennai, almost claimed him first ball as Pietersen narrowly avoided playing the ball onto his stumps while attempting a drive.

Dhoni took off Yuvraj after one over and returned to Zaheer, who was welcomed back by Cook with a superb straight drive for four.

Cook, who turns 24 on Christmas Day, played fluently for his 16th half-century before falling leg-before to Zaheer in the post-lunch session.

England also lost Paul Collingwood cheaply for 11, caught behind off Mishra’s third delivery as the tourists slipped to 131 for four.

But Pietersen and Flintoff launched a brilliant counter-attack to keep the Indians at bay until the last five minutes of play.

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st Innings) 453 (G. Gambhir 179, R. Dravid 136).

ENGLAND (1st Innings):

A.J. Strauss lbw b Zaheer 0

A.N. Cook lbw b Zaheer 50

I.R. Bell b Sharma 1

K.P. Pietersen lbw b Harbhajan 144

P.D. Collingwood c Dhoni b Mishra 11