Pietersen anchors England against India

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LONDON: Kevin Pietersen's unbeaten 71 took England to 217 for three against India at lunch on the second day of the first Test at Lord's here on Friday as the tourists were forced to do without Zaheer Khan.

England, who resumed on 127 for two, lost just one wicket in the session when Jonathan Trott was lbw to Praveen Kumar for 70.

Ian Bell was 28 not out, having so far put on 57 for the fourth wicket with Pietersen, as England made steady, if unspectacular, progress against a depleted attack.

India suffered a major setback when spearhead fast bowler Zaheer remained off the field with a hamstring injury

The left-armer had been the pick of India's attack on Thursday, removing openers Alastair Cook and England captain Andrew Strauss, on his way to miserly figures of two for 18 in 13.3 overs before breaking down.

To make matters worse for ICC Test Championship leaders India, who had won the toss, not only were they a bowler light in what was only a four-man attack to start with, but conditions for batting had improved markedly from Thursday's overcast skies.

With the sun shining, the South Africa-born pair of Trott and Pietersen resumed on 58 not out and 22 not out respectively.

They looked untroubled early on Friday, Pietersen on-driving Ishant Sharma for four.

But persevering medium-pacer Kumar was rewarded for his accuracy when Trott, aiming across the line, was lbw for 70 to end a stand of 98 that left England 160 for three.

Kumar might not be as quick as either Zaheer or Ishant, but a spell of one wicket for seven runs in six overs was proof of his effectiveness.

Pietersen, on 49, almost fell into a well set trap when he glanced Kumar towards Rahul Dravid in the rarely used position of leg-slip.

Pietersen stood his ground and, with the umpires consulting replays which proved inconclusive, he went on to complete a 134-ball fifty with five fours -- somewhat subdued by his own standards.

But his usual aggression was evident when he advanced down the pitch to drive off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for four and stroked Ishant through the covers for another boundary.