Stunning Pietersen revives England

Benj Moorehead at Headingley

Just when it seemed England were surrendering their No.1 Test crown to South Africa Kevin Pietersen intervened with an outrageous hundred - his 21st in Tests - that has kept his team alive in this crucial second Test at Headingley. Pietersen is 149 not out overnight and with two days to go a victory for England is no longer impossible.

England were four wickets down and 236 runs behind South Africa when the players came out for an extended final session. Pietersen had 43 runs to his name; 16 balls later he was on 69.

This was a customary KP serving of flaying drives, ferocious pulls and other shots which defy the cricketing lexicon. At times he took on Morne Morkel's extra bounce by stepping to leg and carting everything between square leg and midwicket. Dale Steyn was flogged like a medium pacer, including a straight six played with all the time in the world. 

Meanwhile James Taylor was feeling his way into Test cricket, initially troubled outside off stump but ultimately very competent. Most striking about his innings was the lack of bother with which it was played. It was the perfect foil for Pietersen. The pair had put on 147 for the fifth wicket when Taylor played on to Morkel.

England are now just 70 runs behind South Africa going into day four, with Matt Prior on 20.

The story until tea had been of England's slow demise. Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook resumed on 48 for 0, and were able to watch much of the early bowling go by until Morkel and Vernon Philander found their radar.

England’s batsmen were thus provided with two different challenges: to get out of the way of Morkel’s missiles and to resist the teasing temptations of Philander's full length.

Cook was surprised by a straight ball from Philander, playing inside the line and struck plumb in front of middle. England's subsequent review was a complete waste.

A heavy shower brought an early lunch, after which the sun shone on Headingley but not on Strauss, at least not for long. Steyn, bowling from round the wicket and using the full width of the crease to create a natural angle in to the left-hander, forced Strauss to poke away from his body and edge to AB de Villiers. 

Both Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell were out to dismal shots having played themselves in. Trott cut a ball from Steyn straight to Graeme Smith at first slip and Bell threw the bat at a wide full one from Jacques Kallis and edged to the same fielder. It was as if England were waving the white flag.

But there are no circumstances in which Pietersen will surrender, and he made us believe the impossible with his stirring post-tea assault. There's plenty of life in this Test match yet. 




Date: 04/08/2012 19:47:19 by BMoorehead
In: Today | England |