Kevin Pietersen [Images] scored an unbeaten half-century as England [Images] extended their lead to 258 runs at lunch on day four of the first Test against India at Lord's on Sunday.

- Scorecard

Pietersen was unbeaten on a solid 62, hitting eight boundaries in 118 deliveries, as England reached 161 for 5 at the lunch break.

Left-armer RP Singh gave the visitors a ray of hope when he claimed three quick wickets in the morning session.

He came up with the wickets of Michael Vaughan [Images] (30), Paul Collingwood [Images] (4) and Ian Bell [Images] (9) in a fiery spell of fast bowling that saw him claim 3 wickets for 10 runs in the space of 15 deliveries.

In their first innings, England were bowled out for 298 and in turn knocked out India for 201, taking a handy first innings lead of 97 runs.

Morning session: (84 runs, 25 overs, 3 wickets)

Play started on time on Sunday under clear blue skies with no imminent threat of rain. And it could not have been better for England who were looking for a good batting performance on the fourth day after resuming on 77 for 2.

Vaughan and Pietersen were trying to get a move on and looked to take on the seam bowlers. Just when they were starting to take stock of the bowling, Vaughan was bowled by RP Singh courtesy of an inside edge for 30.

The wicket seemed to have fired RP Singh, who then produced an unplayable delivery to get rid of Paul Collingwood.

The England right-hander made just 4, before Singh surprised him with a well-directed bouncer, which Collingwood tried to evade, but ended up gloving it to VVS Laxman at second slip.

For the second time in the match Ian Bell's stumps were rattled. It was Singh once again, his third wicket of the morning in the space of 15 balls.

Bell had pulled Singh for a boundary through square leg off the previous delivery, but this time Singh pitched it up a bit further. Bell tried the same shot again, but this time the inside edge crashed onto the stumps.

Meanwhile, at the other end Pietersen continued batting in his normal attacking fashion. He cruised to his half-century, his 11th in Test cricket off 88 deliveries, hitting seven boundaries as England reached 142 for 5 in the 44th over.

Pietersen and Matt Prior then batted out the few overs before lunch as England reached 161 for 5, for an overall lead of 258 runs.

Pietersen thrilled the huge Sunday gathering with a wide array of shots as he normally does when he stays at the wicket. He was unbeaten on 62 at the break, hitting eight boundaries in his 118-ball knock.

Though India managed to grab a few wickets in the session, England still has the upperhand with five more wickets to go on a pitch where batting is not that easy.

Indian opener Wasim Jaffer said on Saturday "a score of around 300 is quite chaseable", but it seems unlikely that England will fold up after lunch for 50 runs.

It will take another Herculean task by the Indian bowlers, a repeat of the first innings, if they have to get anything out of this match.