Rain, bad light spoil day one: England 118 for3 at tea

Mohali, Mar 9 (UNI) A defiant 81-run partnership between Ian Bell (38 not) and Kevin Pietersen (43 not out) for the third wicket helped England recover to 118 for three and early tea was taken after bad light halted play 67 minutes after lunch on the first day of the second Test against India at the PCA Stadium here today.

At one stage, the visitors were struggling at 36 for two with Irfan Pathan dismissing openers Andrew Strauss (18) and Alastair Cook (17) cheaply.

However, Bell and Pietersen applied themselves to defy the Indian attack. They targetted the loose deliveries off debutant medium pacer Munaf Patel, who conceded 36 runs from eight overs. They were cautious against off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (6-0-15-0) and Anil Kumble (4-1-5-1).

Bell and Pietersen realised 50 runs in 46 minutes from 73 balls and took England total to 87 for two in 25 overs. When it looked they would pose a serious problem to the hosts, seasoned campaigner Anil Kumble, who replaced debutant Piyush Chawla (5-1-20-0), dismissed Bell, who missed the delivery and was bowled. When Bell was out, England total was 117.

The 81-run partnership came in 81 minutes from 128 balls.

Paul Collingwood then joined Pietersen and with the addition of just one run, umpires Darrel Hair and Simon Taufel upheld the bad light appeal by the England batsmen.

Immediately, a light drizzle made things worst and covers were brought in over the pitch.

Pieterson's unbeaten 43 contained six boundaries, facing 68 balls and stayed at the wicket for 90 minutes.

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