Pietersen hits century but English lose series

KEVIN PIETERSEN hit a defiant 10th hundred at the highest level as England saved the final Test against India at the Brit Oval yesterday.

India will not be too disappointed with their failure to force victory at the Oval, as the draw gives them a 1-0 series win, their third on English soil and first since 1986.

Pietersen famously struck his maiden three-figure score in Tests on the same ground in the Ashes-clinching victory two years ago — and this time, he secured another draw with a 159-ball effort.

Set an improbable 500-run victory target, England closed out the fifth day on 69 for six – having batted 90 overs yesterday and 110 for the innings.

The batting rearguard limited the damage of England’s npower series defeat to 1-0, their first loss on home soil for six years.

It was only the third time India have won a Test series in England.

Pietersen finally succumbed for 101, slicing to slip off Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, but Michael Vaughan’s team were within sight of the finishing line at that point.

Pietersen reached his latest landmark in the same over in which he was dismissed, the fifth with the new ball, when he found the boundary for the 18th time.

Faced with the prospect of batting out the entire final day to seal a stalemate, England lost both openers in the first session but were aided by dropped catches by India captain Rahul Dravid and wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni either side of lunch.

But the contest proved something of an anti-climax as Ian Bell and Matt Prior negotiated the final hour.

When Bell, who contributed a quickfire 67, fell attempting a sweep to Anil Kumble, there were only 28 deliveries left. England skipper Michael Vaughan said he is now focused on looking at what led to the defeat.

He said: “It’s been a really challenging Test series, but full credit to India they have played some really good cricket, especially in the last two Tests where they have put us under pressure from the first session.

“We set a challenge yesterday morning to try and get out of this game with a draw and I’m very proud of how the team have fought.

“In the game at Trent Bridge, we were 150 light in each innings to force victory and they have put us under pressure, their bowling attack produced different angles to which we have had to cope with in past.

“But the team can move forward. We are relatively young and we’ve got to learn from this experience,” he concluded.