ASHES PHOTOS: Pietersen brilliance digs England out of hole

Kevin Pietersen's dazzling century failed to seize the initiative from Australia in the third Ashes Test, with England closing 34 runs short of avoiding the follow-on after an engrossing third day's play at Old Trafford. 

Pietersen dug his team out of a hole by hitting 113 his 23rd Test hundred but was one of three batsmen removed after tea by Australia, which reduced England to 294-7 in reply to 527-7 declared.

If the English lower order, starting with Matt Prior (6) and Stuart Broad (9), can get the team past the follow-on mark of 328, Australia's hopes of victory to keep the series alive would be seriously dented with only two days left.

England began the day on 53-2, with an uphill task in hand. Skipper Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott knew they had to survive the opening spell from feisty Aussie bowlers, who found new vigour after putting up a huge total on board.

- Scorecard

As crowd build in anticipating a day full on runs from home side, it turned out to be a tough one hour to negotiate for England batsmen.

As Cook clipped one off his pads for the first boundary off the morning, fans’ keenness also grew, hoping that the skipper would play another masterclass knock.

Ryan Harris provided the early breakthrough for Australia as he had Jonathan Trott walking back to the pavilion for 5.

Harris was rewarded for some consistent bowling through out the opening hour as Trott poked at a delivery outside off stump, only to edge it to Michael Clarke at second slips.

Cook meanwhile didn’t let the Trott dismissal affect him much as he caressed a Peter Siddle delivery through extra covers for a boundary.

In the next over, Cook helped himself with a couple, which brought up his half-century. 

Kevin Pietersen, who as struggling before the Test, made his intentions clear with a thunderous boundary off Siddle.

Pietersen then latched onto a short delivery from Mitchell Starc and dispatched it towards the midwicket for a boundary.

Starc went in short again and Pietersen was equal to the task -- an action replay of the previous shot.

He took the attack to off-spinner Nathan Lyon, hitting him for back to back sixes in the 63rd over, to bring up his half-century from 71 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes.

But it was Starc, who ended the promising stand between Cook and Pietersen, by removing the England skipper for 62.

A short of a length delivery from Starc had Cook attempting to play one behind square, but ended up nicking it to Brad Haddin.

After Cook’s dismissal, Pietersen took over and it was a dominating show from England No. 4. He was particularly severe on off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who was at the receiving end with boundary in consecutive overs.

Pietersen breezed through to his half-century with two massive sixes off Lyon, which brought the crowd on their feets.

KP got good support from Ian Bell as the duo forged a vital 115-runs stand for the fifth wicket.

Bell too reached his half-century with a clip off his pads off Peter Siddle. Bell was finally dismissed by Ryan Harris for 60.

Kevin Pietersen romped his way another Ashes century as he was the standout batsman for England. On a day when Australian bowlers kept testing England batsmen, KP was the stand out.

Pietersen reached the three-figure mark with a boundary off Mitchell Starc.

After Bell was dismissed, Pietersen combined well with Jonny Bairstow and added 52 runs for the sixth wicket.

Bairstow was dismissed by Starc for 22 after he was snapped by Shane Watson in slips.

Mitchell Starc got into the act once again as he removed centurion Pietersen for 113. A perfect delivery from left-armer as he had KP playing across the line and was adjudged leg-before-wicket.

KP went in for review, but replays showed that the ball would have gone onto hit the stumps.

Matt Prior and Stuart Broad were at the crease when stumps were drawn on Day 3.