England set up exciting Test finale

Ap
Tuesday 10 March 2009 18:06 GMT
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Kevin Pietersen hit a typically adventurous 102 to propel England to 237-6 at lunch on the final day of the fifth cricket Test against West Indies at the Queen's Park Oval, giving the visitors a slim chance of leveling the series.

England, with an overall lead of 239, are expected to declare at lunch and will then have two sessions to bowl the West Indies out.

The right-hander smacked nine fours and a six off 92 balls as the visitors added 157 runs to its overnight total of 80-3.

Matt Prior contributed a brilliant 61 off 49 balls and shared a quick-fire fifth wicket stand of 106 off 88 deliveries with Pietersen.

The West Indies had an early breakthrough when Paul Collingwood (9) chipped a return catch to Ryan Hinds at 101-4.

But the home team adopted defensive tactics throughout the morning session and England took advantage.

Pietersen, 34 overnight, raced to his half century off 42 balls when he flat-batted a sweep for his fifth boundary.

Prior matched his more experienced partner stroke for stroke and his fifty arrived in just 39 balls. The wicketkeeper, who hit 131 not out in the first innings, was eventually bowled middle stump by Lionel Baker after lashing eight fours.

Pietersen brought up his 16th test century, and first of the series, off 88 balls just before he perished hitting out at Fidel Edwards just before lunch.

Stuart Broad was unbeaten on 13 at the interval.

Baker (2-39) and Ryan Hinds (2-57) earned the best bowling figures for the West Indies.

There were still 66.2 overs remaining in the day with the visitors set to declare and give themselves a chance of pressing for a win in the final two sessions.

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