England avoid series whitewash

Cricket : Kevin Pietersen hit a defiant 10th hundred at the highest level as England saved the final Test against India at the…

Cricket: Kevin Pietersen hit a defiant 10th hundred at the highest level as England saved the final Test against India at the Brit Oval.

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 369 for six — having batted 90 overs today 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.

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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 with a clip through midwicket.

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.

Despite brief excitement among the strong Indian contingent in a healthy crowd, the contest proved something of an anti-climax as Ian Bell and Matt Prior negotiated most of the final hour.

When Bell, who contributed a quickfire 67, fell attempting a sweep to Anil Kumble, there were only 28 deliveries remaining.