KP hundred as England limit the damage

Kevin Pietersen hit a defiant 10th hundred at the highest level as England saved the final Test against India at the Brit Oval.

Pietersen, who famously struck his maiden three-figure Test score on the same ground during the 2005 Ashes series, helped secure the draw with a 159-ball effort.

Set an improbable 500-run victory target, England ended the fifth day on 369 for six - having batted 90 overs on Monday and 110 for the innings - with the draw good enough to wrap up a 1-0 series win for India.

It is only the third time India have won a Test series in England.

Pietersen finally succumbed for 101, slicing to slip off Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, but Michael Vaughan's team were within sight of the finishing line at that point.

Pietersen reached his latest landmark in the same over in which he was dismissed, the fifth with the new ball, when he found the boundary for the 18th time with a clip through midwicket.

Faced with the prospect of batting out the entire final day to seal a stalemate, England lost both openers in the first session but were aided by dropped catches by India captain Rahul Dravid and wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni either side of lunch.

Despite brief excitement among the strong Indian contingent in a healthy crowd, the contest proved something of an anti-climax as Ian Bell and Matt Prior negotiated most of the final hour.

When Bell, who contributed a quickfire 67, fell attempting a sweep to Anil Kumble, there were only 28 deliveries remaining.