CRICKET: Kevin Pietersen took the lead role in his own drama to help England close on 347 for six after the first day of the third Test against Pakistan yesterday. The South Africa-born batsman rode his luck to complete his fifth Test century before retiring with cramp in his left forearm at Headingley.

Ian Bell was on 66 not out. Matthew Hoggard was dismissed with the final ball of the day by fast bowler Umar Gul, who took four for 73. Pietersen, on 104 not out, was set to resume his innings alongside Bell today as England lead the four-match series 1-0.

Pietersen could have been out three times. On two he appeared to inside-edge a ball from bowler Shahid Nazir via his hip to the wicketkeeper only to be given not out. On 29 another inside edge, off Nazir, was caught only for a no-ball to be called. Pietersen was also dropped shortly after getting to his century, again off the bowling of the long-suffering Nazir.

Facing Mohammad Sami in the final session, Pietersen began the over on 87 and hit successive three fours, interrupted by two visits from the physio, before scampering to his century. He hit 15 fours and two sixes, off leg spinner Danish Kaneria, to get to the mark off 123 deliveries. Shortly afterwards he summoned the physio again and made way for wicketkeeper Chris Read.

The odd man out is Marcus Trescothick. The left-handed opener, himself without a test 50 in eight innings, helped put on 67 for the first wicket after England opted to bat before two wickets fell in five balls without a run being added.

Sami changed ends and changed the mood as Trescothick, having clattered six fours in his 28, drove a return catch back to the strike bowler, who accepted it at the second attempt. Nazir then removed Strauss for 36.

At that stage Nazir had figures of 5-3-5-1 and he deserved better when Pietersen had his first escape.

Alastair Cook was given a similar reprieve when facing Sami, to Inzamam's disgust. Gul eased the touring side's sense of injustice with the last ball of the morning, taking a low return catch off Cook's leading edge. That made it 110 for three, with Pakistan holding the initiative, only for Pietersen and Paul Collingwood to wrench it back with an 82-run partnership.

Collingwood played a gritty innings of 31 before holing out in the deep off the splice when facing the impressive Gul. Bell and Read made sure the final session also went England's way, Read contributing 38 to an 86-run stand before he became Gul's third victim near the close.

When Read had replaced Pietersen, his first scoring shot was a boundary off the inside edge just past his stumps. Nazir, of course, was the bowler.