Pietersen hits 85 as England lead Sri Lanka

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP):Kevin Pietersen struck a superb 85 and Alastair Cook hit a record-equalling 50 as England closed day three of the third and final Test on 195-4, with an 11-run lead over beleaguered Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl yesterday.

Replying to Sri Lanka's 184 all out, England lost captain Andrew Strauss (3) and Jonathan Trott (4) cheaply, but a third-wicket partnership of 106 between Pietersen and Cook (55) helped the hosts finish in a dominant position with two days left.

The Sri Lankans, who added just seven runs to their overnight total of 177-9, now have little chance of a victory that would level the three-match series at 1-1.

talented batsman

Pietersen, who returned to form with a much-needed 72 in the drawn second Test at Lord's, followed it up with a scintillating 115-ball knock in Southampton that featured 14 boundaries.

Solid in defence, the talented South Africa-born batsman unleashed an array of attacking strokes in a long final session to thrill a crowd that had previously been left frustrated by a flurry of rain delays.

His brilliant knock was ended 10 minutes before stumps when he edged Thisara Perera to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, denying Pietersen an 18th Test century and a first on English soil since 2008.

In-form opener Cook, meanwhile, became the only the fourth English cricketer - and the first in nearly 50 years - to score at least 50 in six straight Test innings.

He hit seven fours before he sent a delivery by Dilhara Fernando to Thilan Samaraweera, who snaffled the catch at gully at the second attempt.

Ian Bell, whose composed 48-ball 39 featured six boundaries, and nightwatchman James Anderson (0) were the not-out batsmen at the close.

The innings of Cook and Pietersen were even more impressive given the situation they found themselves in when they were brought together, with England in deep trouble on 14-2.