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Kevin Pietersen marks return by hitting a cavalier 170 for Surrey Kevin Pietersen marks return by hitting a cavalier 170 for Surrey
(about 2 hours later)
It felt inevitable from the moment Kevin Pietersen strode out to the crease. Well, not all of it, of course. The owner of the Peugeot 207 who parked beyond the mid-on boundary did not, presumably, do so expecting a cricket ball-shaped dent in its boot on their return. It seemed inevitable from the moment Kevin Pietersen strode out to the crease. Well, not all of it, of course. The owner of the Peugeot 207 who parked beyond the mid-on boundary did not, presumably, do so expecting a cricket ball-shaped dent in its boot.
And the elderly patron who settled in to watch from the comfort of his collapsable fishing chair certainly did not see it coming when he was sent flying by a screaming drive through extra cover from the right-handed batsman.And the elderly patron who settled in to watch from the comfort of his collapsable fishing chair certainly did not see it coming when he was sent flying by a screaming drive through extra cover from the right-handed batsman.
But of the 500 or so people who turned up for a sunny but cold Sunday at The Parks to watch Oxford MCCU host Surrey in a three-day friendly match, few would have bet against Pietersen plundering a century in his first game of red-ball cricket for 15 months on the eve of England’s first Test with West Indies in Antigua. But of the 500 or so people who turned up for a sunny but cold Sunday at The Parks to watch Oxford MCCU host Surrey in a three-day friendly match, few would have bet against Pietersen plundering a century in his first game of red-ball cricket for 15 months, and on the eve of England’s first Test with West Indies in Antigua.
By the time his three-and-a-half hours in the middle had come to an end, caught in the deep, some 24 fours and two sixes had flown from the bat. A 149-ball 170 in Surrey’s 420 for seven declared will not count towards the weight of runs the incoming chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Colin Graves, believes could force a rethink from the selectors.By the time his three-and-a-half hours in the middle had come to an end, caught in the deep, some 24 fours and two sixes had flown from the bat. A 149-ball 170 in Surrey’s 420 for seven declared will not count towards the weight of runs the incoming chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Colin Graves, believes could force a rethink from the selectors.
Given this was a first hundred for Pietersen in any form of cricket since August 2013, the third Ashes Test against Australia, there will need to be plenty more mischief made when Surrey’s season starts for real against Glamorgan next Sunday. It was great fun to watch though. Given this was a first hundred for Pietersen in any form of cricket since August 2013, the third Ashes Test against Australia, there will need to be plenty more mischief made when Surrey’s season starts for real against Glamorgan next Sunday. It was great fun to watch, though.
Arriving at 31 for two with openers Zafar Ansari and Rory Burns removed by Oxford MCCU captain Sam Weller – a promising seamer on Kent’s books this summer – Pietersen needed to knuckle down before going through the gears. He lost Vikram Solanki, caught at slip off left-armer Jack Grundy for 21 and saw Steve Davies bowled by the loopy off-spinner Jack McIver for nine. Arriving at 31 for two with Zafar Ansari and Rory Burns removed by Oxford MCCU captain Sam Weller – a promising seamer on Kent’s books this summer – Pietersen needed to knuckle down before going through the gears. He lost Vikram Solanki, caught at slip off the left-armer Jack Grundy for 21 and saw Steve Davies removed by the loopy off-spin of Jack McIver for nine.
By lunch he had already unleashed one flamingo-flicked four and sat 47 not out but with Jason Roy having been trapped lbw by 6ft 5in seamer Abidine Sakande, support was in short supply. Step forward Gary Wilson, who was often the aggressor in a stand of 203 for the sixth wicket that saw the Irish wicketkeeper finish up unbeaten on 119. By lunch Pietersen had already unleashed one flamingo-flicked four and sat 47 not out but with Jason Roy having been trapped lbw by the 6ft 5in seamer Abidine Sakande, support was in short supply. Step forward Gary Wilson, who was often the aggressor in a stand of 203 for the sixth wicket that saw the Irish wicketkeeper finish up unbeaten on 119.
Pietersen had streaky moments, no question, twice edging over the slips in the 60s. But those aberrations and a couple of fresh-air shots aside, the 34-year-old batsman was humming and brought up three-figures with a smashed drive through extra-cover off the medium-pacer Matt Hughes’ first ball.Pietersen had streaky moments, no question, twice edging over the slips in the 60s. But those aberrations and a couple of fresh-air shots aside, the 34-year-old batsman was humming and brought up three-figures with a smashed drive through extra-cover off the medium-pacer Matt Hughes’ first ball.
If the celebration was respectful, the onslaught that followed – after being dropped the very next ball – was anything but. Pietersen required just 27 balls to make it 150, with Hughes dispatched back over his head for two sixes in one over, the first of which will see the panel-beater in the local garage earn some business. If the celebration was respectful, the onslaught that followed – after being dropped the very next ball – was anything but. Pietersen required just 27 balls to make it 150, with Hughes dispatched back over his head for two sixes in one over, the first of which will see the panel-beater at the local garage earn some extra business.
He eventually perished in the deep to Sakande, before striding off, bat raised towards the pavilion and the phalanx of photographers. The students of Oxford MCCU will resume on Monday on 28 for 4 – with Chris Tremlett taking three wickets after Matt Dunn struck with the third ball of the innings. He eventually perished in the deep to Sakande before striding off, bat raised towards the pavilion and the phalanx of photographers. The students of Oxford MCCU will resume on Monday on 28 for four – with Chris Tremlett taking three wickets after Matt Dunn struck with the third ball of the innings.