CRICKET:IAN BELL and Kevin Pietersen shared a record partnership of 350 yesterday as England ruthlessly dissected an inadequate India attack on the second day of the fourth and final Test at the Oval. At the close of a prolonged day after two sessions were lost to rain on Thursday, England were 457 for three with a 4-0 series whitewash in their sights.

The home team took top place in the world rankings from India with their innings victory in the third Test at Edgbaston.

Bell (181 not out) and Pietersen (175) each completed their second centuries of the series yesterday and the third-wicket stand exceeded the previous England best for any wicket against India, 308 by current batting coach Graham Gooch and Allan Lamb at Lord’s in 1990.

A sunny day began deceptively well for India, who accounted for openers Andrew Strauss (40) and Alastair Cook (34) after the pair had resumed on 75 for no wicket. Cook, whose Test average had briefly crept over 50, fenced at the fourth ball of Ishant Sharma’s opening over from the Vauxhall End and was beaten outside the off stump. The next ball, a fuller delivery, drew the batsman forward in an attempted drive which flew off the edge to Virender Sehwag at first slip.

Strauss scored only two runs in the opening hour and then threw away his wicket when he chased a wide delivery from Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and was caught behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Bell, whose first boundary was a delightful late cut off RP Singh, and Pietersen took England to lunch at 126 for two.

Bell reached his 16th Test century, his fifth of the year and his first at the Oval, by punching Raina through the off side for a 12th boundary.

Pietersen completed his 19th test century, and his fourth at the ground where his maiden test hundred in 2005 ensured England won the Ashes, by pulling the first delivery after tea off Sharma to the boundary.

Sreesanth enlivened proceedings in his role of pantomime villain by twice hurling the ball at Pietersen’s stumps in his follow through, exchanging words with the batsman on the second occasion.

Bell joined in the fun with successive straight sixes off Mishra before Pietersen finally departed, caught and bowled by Raina shortly before the close.

Pietersen’s 27 boundaries included one four from an audacious switch hit.