Image Credit- Wisden.
Venue- Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds [August 2012].
In the year 2012, South African Cricket Team toured England for a 3 match test series. After winning the first test of the series the visitors were on a roll. On the other hand, the hosts were on backfoot. In a do or die test, English Captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to field first.
The South Africans continued from where they ended in the first test. They battled for around 140 overs and posted a big score of 419 in their first innings. In response the hosts had a solid first wicket partnership of 65 runs. However, at one stage the English scorecard read 173/4. The match could have gone anywhere and that is when Kevin Pietersen blasted upon the scene.
Pietersen scored a brilliant 149 of 214 balls and made sure that his side is in a safe position. His innings consisted of 22 boundaries and 1 six. It is pertinent to note that this innings of his was not just power hitting but was also about timing and finding gaps. Furthermore, the straight six which he hit to Dale Steyn will be remembered for ages. Apart from the six his pull shots and footwork were also equally entertaining.
In short it was just sheer class of Kevin Pietersen. By the time he was dismissed the scorecard read 351/6. The English were eventually all out for 425 runs, thereby getting a lead of 6 runs. The test match ended in a draw. But this test will always be remembered by the fans for the iconic knock of one and only Kevin Pietersen.
The commentator of the game said it right- We run out of superlatives when Pietersen bats like this.
To watch Kevin Pietersen's innings, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment