Pietersen: Centurion

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Fourth npower Test Match
The Brit Oval
South Africa 194 & 37-1 v England 316 (K P Pietersen 100, P D Collingwood 61, M Ntini 5-94)

Kevin Pietersen has continued his dream start as England captain after his century proved the backbone of England's first innings reply on day two of the fourth npower Test against South Africa at the Oval.

Pietersen smashed 15 boundaries on his way to 100 off 137 balls, following Archie MacLaren, Allan Lamb and Andrew Strauss in becoming only the fourth England captain to score a century in his first Test in the role.

It was largely business as usual elsewhere in the home line-up, however, with Paul Collingwood the only other recognised batsman to make a half-century.

Nevertheless, England's cause was furthered in the evening thanks to an entertaining and unbeaten 49 from Steve Harmison, the home side eventually being dismissed for 316.

Resuming on 49-1, England aimed to build on the outstanding display offered on Thursday when they dismissed the tourists for a lowly 194.

But they suffered an immediate setback when Ian Bell (24) edged seamer Makhaya Ntini to Proteas captain Graeme Smith at first slip off the fourth ball of the day.

Confident

Pietersen's innings then began in typically confident fashion, with nine fours coming as he reached his half-century. Perhaps also typical were the couple of close escapes he survived before bringing up his 14th Test century shortly before tea.

The first reprieve came just after making his 50 when an attempted pull off Morne Morkel was mis-timed but a diving Ntini was unable to collect the catch in the deep.

Ntini was also the fielder - this time at mid-on - when Pietersen mis-timed a drive off Andre Nel when on 61 and, although this time he got his hands to the ball, he was again unable to collect as he dived.

Having survived those reprieves, Pietersen went on to dominate partnerships with Alastair Cook and Collingwood, which enabled England to overcome their shaky start.

Pietersen joined opener Cook (39) in a 60-run stand before the Essex left-hander edged behind just two overs before lunch after Ntini decided to bowl wider from the crease.

Collingwood hit a defiant century last time out at Edgbaston and he was equally aggressive during the early stages of his innings - one pull for four off Jacques Kallis being played one-handed.

But his innings was nevertheless overshadowed by Pietersen's, with the latter's century coming when he clipped Ntini through mid-wicket and to the boundary.

However, it was to be Pietersen's last as he was dismissed just two deliveries later after edging Ntini - who ended with figures of 5-94 - straight to Kallis at wide second slip.

The final session intially saw a steady accumulation of England scalps, with Collingwood (61) caught and bowled by Kallis, while Andrew Flintoff (9), Tim Ambrose (4) and Stuart Broad (1) all fell quickly by the wayside.

Frustrating

A total of 300 at that stage appeared unlikely but, with South Africa taking the new ball, Harmison and James Anderson delighted the majority of the spectators in south London in frustrating the tourists.

Harmison in particular was good value, his seat-of-the-pants innings also including a smattering of well-timed strokes as he edged past his previous first-class best.

Anderson (13) departed lbw to Paul Harris with Harmison just one short of a maiden Test half-century, a milestone that remains elusive after last man Monty Panesar (0) was run out.

Arift by 122 runs, South Africa's first-innnings malaise soon returned when Smith fell lbw to Anderson without scoring. However, Neil McKenzie (9 no) and Hashim Amla (26 no) took them through to stumps.