Pietersen rides his luck to 82 not out

LEEDS, England, Aug 4 (Reuters) Kevin Pietersen rode his luck to help England to 224 for four at tea on the opening day of the third test against Pakistan today.

At the interval Pietersen was on 82 not out, including 12 fours and two sixes, although he had two fortunate escapes on the way.

Ian Bell, who scored centuries in each of the first two tests, was unbeaten on nine at the other end.

England, who were 110 for three at lunch, dominated the afternoon until Paul Collingwood threw away his wicket after helping to put on 82 for the fourth wicket.

The first hour at Headingley was all England after they opted to bat, reaching 67 without alarm by the first drinks break, but Pakistan hit back with two wickets in five balls without conceding a run, then removed Alastair Cook with the last ball of the morning.

Pakistan still had reason to feel hard done by, however, as they trooped into lunch.

Mohammad Sami had looked innocuous in his opening spell from the Football Stand End, Marcus Trescothick helping himself to a boundary in his first over and Andrew Strauss to two more in the second with a delicious square cut and a flick to square leg.

Sami's change of ends, however, changed everything. Trescothick, having clattered six fours in his 28, drove on the up at Sami and the return catch was taken at the second attempt. The left-handed Trescothick has not made a 50 in his last eight test innings.

Fast-medium bowler Shahid Nazir, playing in his first test since 1999, then removed Strauss for a 42-ball 36, angling one across the England captain who edged to second slip.

At that stage Nazir had figures of 5-3-5-1 and he deserved even better. Pietersen, on two, appeared to inside-edge the ball via his back leg through to the wicketkeeper. He was given the benefit of the doubt, though, as was Cook moments later in similar fashion when facing Sami.

Umar Gul, however, eased Pakistan's sense of injustice when taking a low catch off Cook's leading edge. Cook made 23.

The afternoon session saw England regain the initiative, again with a little luck. Pietersen, on 29, drove airily at Nazir and was caught behind, only for a no-ball to be called.

Pietersen dictated the rest of the session, with a string of boundaries off all-comers. Danish Kaneria's leg spin disappeared into the long off stands and Nazir was pulled for four to bring up the batsman's half-century, a mark studiously ignored by the Pakistani fielders.

Collingwood, who had got off the mark with a mid-wicket six off Gul, then attempted another big leg-side hit off the same bowler and holed out off the splice. He had made 31.

Just before tea, Pietersen produced the shot of the day with a tracer-bullet drive through the covers off Gul, then lofted Kaneria for a straight six.

Reuters DH GC2054