Pietersen leads England's charge for victory

LONDON, July 22 (Reuters) Kevin Pietersen led England's push for victory and was 62 not out at lunch on the fourth day of the first test against India at Lord's today.

Resuming on 77 for two, England reached 161 for five in their second innings at the interval and had a lead of 258 runs.

Matt Prior was not out 10. Left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap Singh claimed all three wickets to fall in the morning session.

Captain Michael Vaughan and Pietersen, subdued yesterday evening, batted positively from the outset looking to build a defendable lead as quickly as possible because of the likelihood of further rain affecting the match.

In their haste to push on, wickets fell and Vaughan went first, bowled by Singh for 30 trying to force the ball through the covers. He had edged through vacant third slip for a boundary the ball before.

Pietersen struck consecutive fours off Zaheer Khan next over, through point and then cover, proving his stroke-play would not be inhibited by the loss of his captain.

Paul Collingwood continued the charge with a thick edge through gully shortly after but that remained his only scoring stroke. He took his eyes off a short delivery from Singh and gloved the ball to VVS Laxman at second slip.

England's game-plan did not change despite the loss of Vaughan and Collingwood. Ian Bell's most convincing shot was a pull through midwicket off Singh but when he attempted a repetition in the same over he played on, off a bottom edge for nine.

Pietersen, who is chasing a ninth test hundred, has so far batted for three hours and faced 118 deliveries.

England achieved a first innings lead of 97 after scoring 298 and bowling India out for 201. India have not won a test series in England for 21 years.

REUTERS BJR KP1815