Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell amassed a record 350-run partnership for the third wicket as England reached 457 for three on the second day of the fourth and final Test against India at the Kennington Oval, on Friday.

The pair went past 150 in the final hour as they go beyond Graham Gooch and Allan Lamb’s partnership of 308 against India at Lord’s in 1990 and posted English team’s seventh highest stand against any team.

Pietersen made 175 and Bell closed unbeaten on 181 his new career best before openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss missed their chance to profit from a benign surface and sunny skies against a pathetic pace attack.

Pietersen entertained approximately 24000 spectators just before the stoppage time. He lashed 27 boundaries in his 232-balls knock before being caught and bowled by Suresh Raina.

“It would be nice to get a record, but I think there are a lot of players in this team who are going to get more than 22 hundreds. They will do.

“It’s be amazing to be part of a team where you’ve got guys who are hitting hundreds like this,” said Pieterson.

India VS England 4th Test: Bell registered his fourth ton of summer

Bell lofted his fourth century of the summer facing 181 balls and now stepping forward towards his maiden double-ton.

At the stumps the other man present on the crease was night watch-man James Anderson, who survived 3 off 18 balls.

The second new ball, which they puzzlingly delayed taking offered the tourists their last hope of salvation on this day. There was one over in the evening when it might have been moderately accomplished.

India VS England 4th Test: Cook could not extend his overnight score

Earlier, resuming the day on 75 without loss after two sessions of the opening day were devoted to rain, England went early into dilemmas as Cook was caught by Virender Sehwag off Ishant Sharma in day’s first over and walked back with his overnight score 34.

After the departure of fellow opener, Strauss looked more vigilant but could not stayed on wicket for much time and edged to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni off Sreesanth for 40, which he scored off 106 balls.

With the home side slumping from 75 without loss overnight to 97 for two, the tourists had a snuffle. That was swiftly bumped-off however by Bell and Pietersen, both commencing literally vigilantly before unleashing a full array of strokes in a partnership which is their second hundred in the ongoing series.

Strauss-XI have now scored 2,675 runs in the series to 1,461 by Dhoni-XI, averaging 60.79 per wicket to 24.35 for India.

The hosts sport a definitive 3-0 lead in the four-match series after bundling up big margin wins at Lord’s, Trent Bridge and Edgbaston.

India vS England 4th Test Scorecard