England lose openers in last day survival battle

LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters) England, set an unlikely victory target of 500 by India, were 126 for two at lunch on the last day of the third and final test at the Oval today.

Captain Michael Vaughan was 22 not out and Kevin Pietersen unbeaten on 17 after openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook had been removed.

Vaughan was dropped 15 minutes before lunch by his opposite number Rahul Dravid.

Strauss, after battling through accurate spells from pacemen Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran 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, making the score 79 for one.

The 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.

Pietersen drove his first ball, a full toss from Kumble, for four but Vaughan should have been out when he edged the spinner to Dravid on 18.

India are 1-0 up in the series.

Reuters TB DB1841