Pietersen and Kumble square up at the Oval

LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters) England batsman Kevin Pietersen and India leg-spinner Anil Kumble squared up to each other as the home team reached 232 for three at tea on the last day of the third and final test at the Oval today.

With the match seemingly heading for a draw, temperatures rose when Kumble fielded the ball from his own bowling in the penultimate over before tea and collided with non-striker Pietersen.

Umpire Ian Howell intervened and India captain Rahul Dravid jogged from slip to calm Kumble as he and Pietersen became involved in a verbal exchange.

Pietersen reached tea on 71 not out, with Paul Collingwood unbeaten on 23 as England chased an unlikely victory target of 500.

Skipper Michael Vaughan was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon session.

Vaughan, dropped at slip by Dravid on 18, wafted at a wide delivery from Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and edged to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for 42.

England lost openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook before lunch.

Strauss, after battling through accurate spells from pacemen Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth, fell for 32 in the first over from left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap Singh.

The left-hander played a loose drive to a wide ball and edged to second slip Vangipurappu Laxman as England lost their first wicket with the score on 79.

Out-of-form Strauss kicked the pitch in anger after his dismissal aware that having already lost his England place in the one-day team, his position for the forthcoming Sri Lanka tour may also be at risk.

The total became 86 for two when Cook, on 43, clipped a ball from leg-spinner Anil Kumble round the corner and Laxman took a sharp catch at leg slip.

India are 1-0 up in the series.

REUTERS PDS BST2134