India v England: Magical Pietersen powers England to strong position

Match Report - Day 2 (1st Test - Test # 2000): England v India (Pataudi Trophy), Lord's, London, 21-25 July 2011

Kevin Pietersen lit up the Lords’ ground with atrocious stroke play as England piled up a strong first innings score. The weather today was perfect for batting as a depleted Indian attack, although lead admirably by persistent Praveen Kumar, kept searching for wickets all day. The wickets did come by but not at the cost which India would have liked.

Contrary to the first day’s gloomy weather, it was a shiny morning when Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott started proceedings for England. They went about their business without much fuss. India’s worst fears had come true as Zaheer was ruled out to bowl in the innings. Praveen, who had bowled a nagging line without much luck, at last tasted it when he trapped Trott in front with a lovely in-swinger. It was cunningly done as most of his deliveries earlier went away from the batsman.

Ian Bell joined Pietersen who was nearing his slowest 50 at Lords. For once Indian attacked looked so impotent that even Dhoni rolled his arm over. Both took England to lunch at 217 for 3. After lunch India managed to separate them only after they had put 110 runs for the 4th wicket, also increasing the run rate in the process. During the stand Pietersen had brought up his magnificent hundred, his 5th at Lords and the slowest overall, with a thumping straight drive off Ishant who was a shadow of himself from the Windies tour.

It was Praveen Kumar again who brought India back into the match by getting two wickets in one over. First he removed Bell for 45 with his banana swing, and then Eoin Morgan inside-edged behind for naught to give India hope of restricting England. But that hope remained elusive as Matt Prior helped build another significant partnership with Pietersen who was now on song. Their stand of 120 in just under 28 overs deflated India as apart from Kumar no bowler looked like troubling English batmen. Tea arrived at 305/5.

Prior did not waste much time and had collected 71 runs in 93 balls when he became Kumar’s next victim, Dhoni taking his 3rd catch in a row. Next ball Kumar was on Lord’s Honours board when a sizzling in-swinger had Stuart Broad plumb in front. Swann not only saved the hat trick, but kept India at bay for 61 more runs. Both punished the depleted Indian attack with fearless stroke play. Pietersen hurried towards his 3rd double century with some pugnacious strokes all over. Ishant bore the brunt of his aggression when Pietersen danced around on the pitch to collect three fours in one over.

After hitting Suresh Raina for six, he brought up his double hundred and the declaration with a four. Such was his mastery that his second hundred took only 110 balls. His innings included 21 fours and a six. Indian openers survived a couple of close LBW shouts to remain undetached at the close in reply to England’s 474 for 8.

Summarized scores:

India 17/0 trail by 457 runs with 10 wickets remaining against England 474/8 (Pietersen 202*, Prior 71; P Kumar 5/106, Zaheer 2/18)