To say that this man has been a thorn in South Africa’s flesh is an understatement. Kevin Pietersen has created headaches yet again in a one day match and with the captain in such thunderous form, who cares about the rest of the line up? This is a magical beginning for a growing captain, and it could be history in the making.

Pietersen shines with the ball as well
With South Africa belting it at 139 for 2 after twenty-overs, one felt England may be pondering on a few more runs they failed to pouch when they batted. But count on Pietersen to change the course again!
First his move to bring Steve Harmison and newcomer Samit Patel into the one day side paid dividends. Herschelle Gibbs felt no split blues a la Brett Lee after the divorce settlement with his ex-wife Tanielle or perhaps he did not show it. Either way, his slam-bam affair had England struggling to get a grasp on things. But after the pace battery was given a full show with little dividend, Pietersen brought on Patel who almost immediately rewarded his captain with the wicket of an impatient Gibbs who till then was playing a gem of an innings.
Graeme Smith showed good form as well but his stay was briefly curtailed. Even as Gibbs was nearing the end of his stay, Jacques Kallis was looking in swashbuckling fashion. He was almost ruthless in approach and it seemed England, while making what seemed like crucial inroads, were still struggling to nail this South African team.
Pietersen then decided to take matters in his own hands, this time with the ball. The captain, it seems, can do no wrong. He had AB de Villiers caught at midwicket by Ian Bell and then in his own over, had Kallis run out by brilliant field work including his own. When JP Duminy and Mark Boucher were still looking to steer South Africa back on track, Pietersen delivered the second blow, having Boucher stumped by a swift Matt Prior.
The decimation was near complete. At 5 down for 168, South Africa were watching an opportunity slip past them despite a terrific start and they would have perhaps set their woes on an otherwise brittle tail in the absence of the Morkel brothers. South Africa should have pouched this one. But England and Pietersen were alert enough to seize the day and victory was theirs!

Leads with the bat
South Africa have only themselves to blame if they are not be able to surpass England’s score. The England openers, put into bat by their skipper, played out their role. It was not the most fanciful of opening partnerships. But they withstood their first test together in the first match of the one day series. Ian Bell scratched out a Test innings like anchor knock while Matt Prior appeared to be catching a bus and late by good measure.
South Africa’s bowling was far from fairy tale. But even decent bowling did not meet with their typical fielding and catching, the high standards by which the team is usually measured. Vernon Philander, filling in for Morne Morkel, was guilty of an early drop and England seemed to get through their makeshift opening pair without too much discomfort.
Jacques Kallis finally provided the breakthrough and when Philander managed to hold on to another wobbly catch to dismiss Engand’s new number three, Owais Shah, off Johan Botha’s bowling, South Africa appeared to have pegged England back after their seemingly comfortable start.
But then arrived the man of the moment and his able partner in crime. Pietersen has been easily the man to tame on this tour as in previous encounters with South Africa. But South Africa were caged in by some mediocre bowling and lackluster fielding and the tall England lads capitalized to good effect. Their astounding near unbeaten partnership (Flintoff was dismissed in the last over) since England lost their three wickets for 113 in the twenty-ninth over once again had the South Africans running for cover.
Pietersen survived a rather close lbw decision off Botha as the ball hit the back leg with Pietersen on the move and practically out of the line of the stumps. He was saved by dubious technology when Mark Boucher destroyed the stumps even as Pietersen’s bat appeared to be in the air as he dove into his crease. He was not going to let this opportunity go to waste.
The anticipated switch shot never came out. But Pietersen did not need it. He found the ball in his area of business and thereafter, made batting against South Africa appear a cakewalk. His shots were both, majestic and effortless. It is relevant to understand from the perspective that no many boundary shots were on offer until the fortieth over when he really got stuck into the self-doubting South African attack. More importantly, his form appeared to be a catalyst for Andrew Flintoff who gradually got into gear and the duo made South Africa pay for every callous delivery, every casual fielding effort and costly when fumbled. The ninety-four runs that came in the final ten overs may have swung the advantage in England’s favour and unless South Africa come up with a similar batting effort, England will feel a reprieve starting off as the decided underdogs at home.
When Flintoff departed making seventy-eight off seventy balls, England had surpassed Headingley’s first innings average of 235 with England finishing on 275. Pietersen may have not been rewarded for a century for his sublime effort, walking back unbeaten on 90. But he will be, if England manage to draw first blood.