England star Kevin Pietersen rips apart India's Zaheer-less bowling attack on Day Two
England star Kevin Pietersen rips apart India's Zaheer-less bowling attack on Day Two
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England's Kevin Pietersen celebrates after scoring a double century
against India on Day Two of the first Test at Lord's yesterday. KP
remained unbeaten on 202 as England declared at 474-8. Pic/AFP
At close, India were 17 for no loss after skipper Andrew Strauss declared at 474 for eight. The man who made it possible for England to grab their first chunk of honours was Kevin Pietersen, who slammed an unbeaten double century. The South African-born batsman turned 18 ufffd his century tally out which four have been scored against India. It was his fifth century at Lord's ever since he made his Test debut in the epic Ashes series of 2005.
India were kept in the field for most of the day as Pietersen treated a Zaheer Khan-minus bowling attack with little respect. He was in-the-face and unsympathetic even as seamer Praveen Kumar proved his critics wrong by ending up claiming five for 106. Even the great Wasim Akram was proved wrong. While on his way to the media centre yesterday, the Pakistani bowling great turned commentator said it was a mistake to play Praveen because the English batsmen face his kind of bowling everyday in county cricket.
First up, Praveen claimed the wicket of Jonathan Trott, who was lucky to survive on Day One. Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior and Stuart Broad were his other victims.
If proof was required over India's desperation, it was provided when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to abandon his wicketkeeping gloves and bowl his medium pacers.
He managed to find an 'edge' off Pietersen's (on 73) bat which went straight to wicketkeeper Rahul Dravid. New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden gave Pietersen out, but the flamboyant batter asked for a review.
Hot Spot showed no edge and the decision was reversed. Pietersen did not come close to getting out after that. It's all in the scorecard Kevin Pietersen not out 202 (326 balls, 21x4, 1x6).
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