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Pietersen: debut delight

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Fourth npower Test Match
The Brit Oval - Day One
South Africa 194 v England 49-1

Kevin Pietersen made an immediate impact on his first day as England Test captain as his bowlers dismissed South Africa for just 194 at the Oval.

Despite winning the toss and batting on a good-looking surface, South Africa were in the field mid-way through the final session on the opening day of the fourth Test, after collapsing from a solid foundation of 103 for one just after lunch.

Recalled paceman Steve Harmison claimed two wickets in two balls to put the skids under the tourists and James Anderson found some swing to claim three middle order scalps.

There were also two wickets apiece for Stuart Broad and Monty Panesar, while Andrew Flintoff bowled with plenty of aggression and little luck in claiming just the first wicket to go down, that of Neil McKenzie.

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith twice earned reprieves in the morning session - including one off the first ball when he was dropped by Alastair Cook in the gully as he cut hard at Harmison.

Smith was also fortunate to survive on 26 when he edged Andrew Flintoff and Cook, diving at full-stretch from third slip, could only get a fingertip to the ball before it fell to earth.

It took Flintoff to make the breakthrough when he tempted McKenzie into driving a wider delivery which this time was taken by Cook above his head at third slip.

Struggled

Smith had struggled throughout his innings, taking over two hours to reach 46, before he tried to hit his way out of his malaise by dragging a short delivery from outside off-stump and was caught well at long leg by James Anderson.

Harmison, playing his first Test since March, followed that success with a quick yorker which removed Amla's middle stump and although Ashwell Prince blocked the hat-trick ball, the momentum was back with England.

Lancashire seamer Anderson removed the dangerous Jacques Kallis in the next over with an inswinger which trapped him lbw right in front of his stumps to become the 42nd England player to reach 100 Test victims.

Prince followed four overs later by driving Anderson straight to point and when the seamer induced Mark Boucher into a thin edge behind, South Africa had lost five wickets for 28 runs in 63 balls.

AB de Villiers, the last of South Africa's recognised batsmen, battled for 80 minutes on his way to a determined 39, but fell in the last over before tea when he was adjudged lbw to Monty Panesar's third ball of the match.

Collapse

Stuart Broad accelerated South Africa's collapse by claiming two quick wickets after the interval when Morne Morkel top-edged an attempted pull to Ian Bell at short leg and Andre Nel edged behind.

England were briefly frustrated by a 22-run last-wicket stand which was ended when Panesar was brought into the attack and Ntini was bowled by a yorker.

There was some hope for the Proteas as they claimed the wicket of Andrew Strauss with the score on just seven, as he edged an angled delivery from Makhaya Ntini to Smith at slip.

There was also a scare for Ian Bell - promoted up the order in the reshuffle following Michael Vaughan's resignation - who just survived a direct hit from Hasim Amla at cover.

But after progressing to 49 for one at the close, England will be confident of building a decent lead on day two on what looks to be an improving pitch.