Cricket:Kevin Pietersen hit his ninth Test hundred to guide England out of trouble and into a strong position against India at Lord's.
In a stunning piece of batting acceleration, Pietersen charged to three figures after lunch on the fourth day.
Having taken 119 deliveries in getting to 64 not out, he needed only a further 29 balls for the 39 which took him to his landmark.
The third of three boundaries in an Anil Kumble over - a huge straight six was sandwiched between a cover drive and a clip to midwicket - sparked a celebratory charge by the batsman towards the Edrich Stand, where his wife-to-be Jessica Taylor was sitting.
Pietersen's dash powered England to 223 for five, an overall advantage of 320, after three quick wickets from Rudra Pratap Singh in the morning session had left the contest wide open.
Captain Michael Vaughan succumbed for 30, bowled by an inswinger from around the wicket by the left-armer.
Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen negotiated a tricky half-hour spell yesterday and were made to work hard this morning.
Pietersen survived two leg before appeals from Shanthakumaran Sreesanth - an inside edge saving him first time and height an issue second - inside the first handful of overs.
Runs were at a premium but Pietersen, whose first 16 runs occupied 58 deliveries, seized upon a leg-side half-volley to clip a first boundary of the morning soon after the second appeal.
Vaughan played in positive fashion but it brought his downfall as an inside edge re-directed the ball into his stumps to give Singh a breakthrough from the nursery end.
England one-day captain Paul Collingwood failed for the second time in the Test as a bouncer from Singh caused surprise, the ball striking the batsman's gloves and spiralling into the slips.
Like Vaughan, Ian Bell perished attempting to force the pace as a pull re-directed the ball into the stumps to leave England 132 for five.