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Pietersen leads in style

CrkInpO, London
Kevin Pietersen cracked his 14th lest century and first as England captain to heave his side Into a good position on the second day against South Africa. England lost Ian Bell and Alastair Cook early on, but thereafter the day was dominated by their newly appointed leader and Paul Collingwood. However, the pride of reaching the landmark got to him and two balls later he fell to Makhaya Ntini for 100, with England leading by a slender 38.
After the early loss of Bell, Pietersen was soon into his stride, but not before Ntini troubled him outside his off stump. Ntini has lacked the presence which made him such an unstoppable force for South Africa, and though his pace has clearly declined in the last 12 months, he remains a formidable opponent who has become adept at bowling in helpful conditions. Conditions such as today's: grey, gloomy and overcast, and Ntini found just enough movement to trouble the batsmen. Initially, at any rate.
Pietersen took command in breathless style after lunch, picking Ntini over midwicket with one-legged flair of Desmond Haynes and taking advantage of Graeme Smith's off-side field - an odd oversight to a player so strong on the leg-side, from a captain usually so aware of a player's pitfalls. Nevertheless he offered a chance on 52 when he top-edged Morkel into the deep, where Paul Harris was dozing. Ntini made a good effort to snaffle it, as he did again when Pietersen mis-hooked Nel from around the wicket, but all the luck was falling England's way.
Collingwood, meanwhile, was fed with leg-side gifts aplenty, working and nudging through midwicket with ease, but he was no less strong through the covers when given the chance. A fierce cut scorched through extra cover as England took the lead. But it was Pietersen who continued to dominate, taking three fours off one Morkel over - including the most exquisite off-drive straight down the ground.
His 15th four was flicked from outside the off stump through midwicket - a trademark stroke from a man writing his own script -as the crowd honoured him with a long standing ovation. Yet two balls later he nudged a wide teaser from .Ntini straight to Kallis at third slip.
Captain or not, It seems unlikely he will ever change his batting style. I Ils dismissal handed Ntini with his best figures since January 2007, and though he has lacked the presence which made him such an unstoppable force for South Africa on this tour, he remains a formidable opponent.
England arc in a reasonably strong position yet, at the start of the day, South Africa had realistic intentions of rattling through the hosts. After a thirty-minute delay for rain, Ntini found one to holds its line on Bell, defending to extra cover, but it took a thick outside edge to Smith at first slip who held it smartly low to his right. Bell has yet to make a hundred at No.3, the position he has long yearned to occupy and make his own. Cook rarely looked confident at the crease, except when tucking into anything on his legs, and he was rightly furious with himself when he wafted needlessly outside his off stump.
As tea approached, Andrew Flintoff clobbered Harris over the top for four to hint at an explosive
final session, but with England's lead only amounting to 38, they need substantially more than brisk crowd-pleasing entertainment.
SCOREBOARD
Scoreboard at tea on the second day of the fourth and final Test between England and South Africa atTheOvalon Friday.
SOUTH AFRICA: First innings 194 ENGLAND: First innings (over-night49-l)
Strauss c Smith b Ntini 6
Cooke Boucher b Ntini 39
Bell c Smi th b N tini 24
Pietersen c Kallis b Ntini 100
Collingwood not out 49
Flintoff not out 9
Extras: (lb-l,nb-3,w-l) 5
Total: (For 4 wktsin 67 overs) 232 Fall of wickets: 1 -7, 2-51, 3-111,4-219.
Bowler O M R W
Morkel • 17 1 63 0
Ntini 19 3 74 4
Nel 17 5 45 0
Kallis 8 0 36 0
Harris 6 2 13 0
To bat: Ambrose, Broad, Anderson, Harmison, Panesar.