Former South African fast bowling great Allan Donald compared Kevin Pietersen to West Indian legend Brian Lara after the England batsman hit his team back into the game with a spectacular century on the third day of the second Test at Headingley on Saturday. Pietersen launched a savage assault after tea, hitting 149 not out as England reached 351 for five at the close, 68 behind South Africa’s first innings total of 419.
“He played seriously well,” said Donald, South Africa’s bowling coach.
“It reminds me of when I ran into Brian Lara, something in the category of a bit of a genius to play knocks like that.”
Pietersen said his last two centuries, one in extreme heat against Sri Lanka in Colombo and Saturday’s 212-ball effort, were the best two of his Test career.
“Today was against an unbelievable bowling attack that keeps coming at you and never gives in. To get runs against that attack is something I will always cherish.” On a day when fortunes turned dramatically against them in an extended afternoon session, South Africa suffered a further blow shortly before the close when captain Graeme Smith had to be helped from the field after injuring his left knee in chasing a ball to the boundary.
