Pietersen maintains belief

Michael Vaughan departs cheaply in the fourth over of the innings © Getty Images

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

England’s Kevin Pietersen backed his team-mates to come through lean spells similar to the one he endured before making a century on the first day of the third and final Test against New Zealand.

The 27-year-old scored 129 - the first time he has passed 50 in 11 innings - accounting for more than half his side’s total on a day which could have been much worse.

Having elected to bat first, England slipped to four for three with Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook falling inside the opening seven overs.

After Ian Bell departed for nine, an 89-run stand between Kevin Pietersen and Collingwood (30) started to turn things around and 42 not out from Stuart Broad gave the scorecard a much more positive look as the tourists closed on 240 for seven.

Despite the struggles of the top order, Pietersen backed his colleagues to come good.

“It is hard. It is something you have to work yourself through and you become a tougher person and a better player after working through a patch like this,” he said.

“The guys have put into this whole trip as much as they can and the rewards will come. I am sure it is not far away from one of these boys firing and someone is going to cop it big time.

Kevin Pietersen advances down the track on his way to a splendid 129 © Getty Images

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“You have to keep believing in yourself and backing your ability to score runs. These are good players with top averages.”

Pietersen added: “We lost wickets at too regular intervals today on a wicket that is not that bad.

“It is definitely something we had to fight through and it does not help when you are four for three.

“There will be a few disappointed lads but that is cricket. We are looking to get ourselves a reasonable target and then you never know.”

His century, made off 163 balls, came as something of a relief to Pietersen, who last reached three figures against India at the Brit Oval last August.

“What was weighing more (on my mind) was I was getting 30s and 40s in every Test match but had not gone on,” he said.

“Today I was really concentrating that when I got 50 I turned it into a big one.

“It is frustrating (to have a barren run) but that is the cycle of life. I can’t go in and score hundreds and fifties all the time.

“It is great to know what a tough patch is and try to get through it. The key for me is to build on this.”