Ruthless Pietersen hails momentum

Kevin Pietersen has enjoyed a magnificent NatWest series as England captain

Kevin Pietersen believes the pressure his England side are exerting on South Africa has left the tourists smarting.

Durban-raised Pietersen knows plenty about South African characteristics and is confident their pride has taken a huge bump with NatWest Series defeat, which was confirmed by a landslide 126-run loss at the Brit Oval yesterday.

England head into tomorrow’s penultimate contest of the campaign at Lord’s 3-0 up and with all the momentum in their direction.

“I know South Africans really well - they don’t want to lose,” Pietersen said, after the latest success was set up by half-centuries from Andrew Flintoff and Ian Bell.

“They would have wanted to have beaten us at Trent Bridge and again today. They’re very, very proud people - very stubborn people.

“It’s the pressure that we’re putting on their batters, bowling at 90mph - and then our batters are hitting their good deliveries for four and really commanding respect.

“It’s definitely hurt them. We’re doing a really good job on South Africa - which is great.”

Incredibly for a team which has languished in the lower reaches of the official one-day rankings since their inception five years ago, England will leapfrog South Africa into second place with a series whitewash.

“I’ve thought about it - we’ve talked about it, and if we keep performing like we are there is no reason why we can’t win 5-0,” Pietersen said. “It is definitely a goal of ours.

“It puts extra pressure on us, because it takes us up to second - but that’s the kind of pressure I want.

“Pressure, I believe, is a privilege.”