CRICKET:ALL SEASON he has threatened without quite getting there but finally yesterday, as the dank gloom of the first day was replaced by sunshine, Kevin Pietersen delivered with a monumental unbeaten innings of 202.
In scoring his 18th Test century, and his fifth and highest at Lord’s, he coaxed England towards a strong position against an Indian side that at times was only masquerading as the best in the world. England finished the day on 474 for eight declared. India were then 17 without loss last night.
The Indian bowling resources have been severely depleted by the absence of Zaheer Khan, whose hamstring strain is said to be sufficiently eased to allow him to bowl second time around.
Despite the clear skies, the ball still swung, particularly the second new ball, manipulated with skill by the enthusiastic and willing medium-paced Praveen Kumar, who shouldered the burden manfully and thoroughly deserved his eventual place on the honours’ board after finishing with five for 106.
Pietersen, capitalising on the excellent groundwork done by Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and himself in the difficult conditions on the severely curtailed first day, produced a relentless innings of great authority.
It was chanceless but for a low catch when he had 49, clipped round the corner to Rahul Dravid, who had that very ball been placed at leg-slip but was considered by the third umpire – incorrectly in the view of many – not to have taken the catch cleanly.
On 73 he was given out to a catch at the wicket that would have given MS Dhoni a maiden Test wicket after he handed the gloves to Dravid, but which was overruled following Pietersen’s instant request for a review.
He had allies: first Trott, who had twice escaped on the first day, but who continued his own phlegmatic way to 70, and a third-wicket stand of 98, before being mystifyingly stranded on his crease and lbw as Kumar brought a ball back at him down the hill.
Next came Ian Bell, who brought his deft touch to proceedings with six fours in his 45 before an excellent ball from Kumar left him with Dhoni taking a good low catch; and finally with Matt Prior, who thrashed the offside and made 71 runs before edging Kumar to Dhoni. The sixth wicket had produced 120.
Eoin Morgan’s dismissal for a duck perfectly illustrated the anomalous situation when it comes to only partial use of the review system.
There is provision now in the playing conditions for the batsman to seek clarification of his dismissal from the umpire. Had Asad Rauf told him he had been caught behind, he would have had the option of reviewing and, on the subsequent evidence, been reprieved.
If on the other hand Rauf signified lbw, then the review option disappears and he would be left to grin and bear it while consoling himself only that in that case it was a duff decision.
SECOND DAY
England: first innings (overnight 127-2)
A Strauss c Sharma b Khan 22
A Cook lbw b Khan 12
J Trott lbw b Kumar 70
K Pietersen not out 202
I Bell c Dhoni b Kumar 45
E Morgan c Dhoni b Kumar 0
M Prior c Dhoni b Kumar 71
S Broad lbw b Kumar 0
G Swann b Raina 24
C Tremlett not out 4
Extras (b 14, lb 8, w 1, nb 1) 24
Total (for 8 wkts dec; 131.4 overs) 474
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-62, 3-160, 4-270, 5-270, 6-390, 7-390, 8-451.
Did not bat: J Anderson
Bowling: Z Khan 13.3-8-18-2, P Kumar 40.3-10-106-5, I Sharma 32-5-128-0 (1w), H Singh 35-3-152-0, MS Dhoni 8-1-23-0 (1nb), S Raina 2.4-1-25-1
India: first innings
A Mukund not out 8
G Gambhir not out 7
Extras (nb 2) 2
Total (for no wicket, six overs) 17
Still to bat: S Tendulkar, R Dravid, VVS Laxman, S Raina, MS Dhoni, H Singh, Z Khan, I Sharma, P Kumar.
Bowling: J Anderson 3-1-9-0, C Tremlett 3-0-8-0 (2nb).
Umpires: A Rauf (Pak) and B Bowden (NZ)
