KP answers England call

Kevin Pietersen acknowledges the applause upon reaching three figures © Getty Images

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Watch Kevin Pietersen's press conference and the close of play report on ECBtv

Kevin Pietersen has built his reputation on timing of a cricket ball, but it was timing of another sort that marked his century out as exceptional on the first day of the third Test against New Zealand.

To score a hundred in any Test is a fine achivement, yet admiration for Pietersen’s 129 at McLean Park rises steeply when one considers the context in which it was made.

The scorecard read four for two when his services were called upon, four for three within moments of his arrival at the crease and 36 for four barely an hour later.

To shepherd England beyond 200 before he perished in the evening session represented a remarkable feat, even more so given that he batted in the knowledge that the outcome of this match will decide the series.

Having failed to record a Test half-century since August last year, and with a top score of 50 in all forms of cricket on the current tour, Pietersen also embarked on his innings keen to amend blemishes on his recent individual record.

Much of the talk before this game centred around the failure of England’s top six to score a first-innings century in 16 attempts, an added burden on the shoulders of Pietersen after every one of his top-order colleagues had departed boasting a combined tally of 43 runs. No pressure then, Kev.

Whether he felt it or not, it was impossible to tell. One thing is for certain: without Pietersen’s century, England’s position at the close of play - some way off what they envisaged when they won the toss - would have been infinitely worse.

Pietersen sweeps to good effect early in his innings

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It is almost certain that they would have been fielding on day one had Pietersen not spent the best part of five hours compiling his 11th Test hundred.

He faced 208 balls in that time, striking 12 fours and a huge six, with the closest he came to offering a chance before his eventual dismissal a leading edge off Grant Elliott that dropped short of and flew between wicketkeeper and first slip.

It may not have been Pietersen’s most fluent innings, but he was the only batsman to make run-scoring look remotely comfortable on an even-paced surface that nevertheless rewarded the seamers for maintaining a fuller length, especially early on.

He dominated the scoring to such an extent that England’s total stood at just 69 when Pietersen reached his fifty, and 170 when he went to three figures himself.

It was an eminently sensible innings from a player whose dazzling strokeplay often makes the game look easier than it is, with clever manipulation of the ball complementing his typically powerful driving down the ground.

Pietersen launches Daniel Vettori on to the stand roof

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He also swept deftly early on, and the presence of two men on the leg-side fence for the quicker bowlers did not deter him from playing his favoured pull.

Pietersen also used his feet adeptly to the spinners, advancing to drive Jeetan Patel wide of mid-off in the afternoon session before lifting the same bowler gloriously into the vacant space over extra cover after tea.

Vettori was dispatched on to the roof of the stand at midwicket as Pietersen freed his arms after reaching his hundred, and the rather muted manner in which he celebrated the milestone reflected the perilous nature of England’s position.

The huge stride to the ball - a feature of Pietersen’s play when he is at his best - had become increasingly prevalent the longer his innings went on, while the New Zealand fielders did not take too kindly to his ambled singles as he made use of plentiful gaps in the field late on.

His ambition proved his downfall in the latter stages of the final session, although those willing to criticise him for a loose drive in the second over of the new ball would be wise to ponder England’s plight minus Pietersen.