Pietersen leads from the front

Cricket : Kevin Pietersen made his 13th Test century, against the country of his birth, to carry England beyond a mid-afternoon…

Cricket: Kevin Pietersen made his 13th Test century, against the country of his birth, to carry England beyond a mid-afternoon blip of three wickets for three runs at Lord's.

Pietersen (104no) shared an unbroken stand of 192 with Ian Bell (75no) in a stumps total of 309 for three to ensure England dominated day one of this heavyweight four-Test series against South Africa.

The tourists' much-touted pace attack went wicketless through the morning and evening sessions — and were out of luck for all but three overs of the afternoon too.

But after Alastair Cook (60) and Andrew Strauss had shared an opening stand of 114, Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn suddenly began to live up to their lofty reputations.

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From 117 for three, however, Pietersen responded with his fourth Test hundred on this ground — hitting 13 fours and a six off 127 balls.

He was hit on the helmet by Steyn when he had just one run to his name, and it was Bell who was into his stride more quickly after the two batsmen came together without a run between them.

But once Pietersen found his feet, his fourth-wicket partner was content to allow him to take control.

When the hundred came with a four crashed past cover off Morkel with the second new ball, Pietersen celebrated by leaping high into the air — and repeating the dose as he ran to the non-striker's end.