Published: Nov 05, 2015, 06:39 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 05, 2015, 06:39 AM (IST)
Johannesburg: Former England skipper and batting star Kevin Pietersen struck an unbeaten 115 off 66 balls Wednesday in a South African Twenty20 Challenge cricket match. Pietersen, who made 22 last Sunday in the first of five matches for Durban franchise Dolphins, slammed 10 sixes and five fours to help his side make 174-6 against Highveld Lions. With hosts Dolphins struggling at 87-6, South Africa-born Pietersen took charge. His first 50 required 45 balls, but he faced just 13 more deliveries to reach a century. An outspoken cricketer who often clashed with officials and team-mates, Pietersen last played for England on a 2013-14 tour of Australia. The 35-year-old has become a T20 batsman-for-hire, playing in the Caribbean before coming to South Africa, and he will compete in the Australian Big Bash League later this month. Kevin Pietersen’s absence a loss to international cricket, says Viv Richards
Earlier, West Indies great Viv Richards, former West Indies batting legend who was arguably the greatest ODI batsman of all time feels that Kevin Pietersen’s exclusion from England team is a loss to international cricket. According to Richards, Pietersen’s personality, disposition and batting makes cricket exciting. Pietersen was overlooked by England and Wales Cricket Board in Ashes 2015 and tournaments later on. This ended an illustrious career of a batsman who was widely regarded as one of the best batsman of his era. Lack of form and spat with Andrew Strauss also led to his downfall. “Kevin Pietersen should have been taken for what he is. There are times folks can be a little stuffy nosed. I’ve always felt about Kevin having seen him, and for the short time I spent with him in Melbourne, he’s a confident dude. He exudes confidence,” he said. Kevin Pietersen open to coaching role in England team
