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Pietersen flirts with danger against Pakistan

Kevin Pietersen diced with danger as he escaped two possible dismissals on day two of the second test as England reached 125 for two when rain forced an early lunch at Edgbaston.

Pietersen was 42 not out at the interval and Jonathan Trott was on 37 when a heavy downpour caused the interruption after play started 35 minutes late because of rain.

Pietersen, dropped twice on Friday, got another life on his overnight score of 36 off Mohammad Amir. An inside edge on to pad ballooned towards Umar Amin at gully but the fielder, distracted by an lbw appeal, spilled a simple chance.

Pietersen, who was often looking to whip balls on off stump through midwicket, was living dangerously despite an obvious eagerness to score his first test century in 23 innings.

His received another controversial reprieve when on 41. As pace bowler Mohammad Asif approached his delivery stride, Pietersen started to pull away from his batting stance, but still played a half-hearted stroke and was caught by a diving Salman Butt at mid-off.

Pakistan claimed the catch but South African umpire Marais Erasmus signalled dead ball after the catch was taken. Butt appeared confused and upset by the ruling, while Pietersen also reaffirmed his belief he was not ready to receive the ball.

A senior official told Reuters Erasmus had verbally called it ‘dead ball’ before Asif had delivered the ball.

The laws of cricket states an umpire ‘can call dead ball if for an adequate reason the striker is not ready for the delivery.... and if the ball is delivered, makes no attempt to play it’. However, Pakistan were left frustrated as Pietersen played the ball.

England led by 53 runs at the break after bowling Pakistan out for their record low against England of 72 in the first innings. Pakistan have now dropped four chances in the innings, following three on Friday.