Kevin Pietersen is much happy at his first success in his first Test match playing as a captain of England team. The century opening partnership game of Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss made a key role in this success and confirmed a clear six-wicket win at the Oval ground.
Despite of that win, South Africa is still up in the series and took it by the ratio 2-1. But for Pietersen it was really a convincing start with responsible performances made by him all round.
South Africa entered the ground with full determination to end their summer in a marvelous way by winning the series by the ratio of 3-0.
At the start of the game they confined the two openers of England team - Cook and Strauss with full strategy. They made difficult nine runs from the first eight overs.
A good chance was missed when the wicket of Strauss was missed due to no-ball call. It could have been turning point and much better for Graeme Smith.
That was the rising delivery of Morne Morkel. Strauss was caught by Ashwell Prince standing at leg slip position; ball came to him after touching left-hander's ribs.
That piece of good fortune could do nothing for South African but for England it worked as a warning for both of players. They begin to play more aggressively and took the game far from South African’s approach.
At lunch break, England was standing at 109-0.
The partnership of Cook and Strauss continued to the score level of 123. England went down for a little time and at 147 they lost their three wickets. They lost their both openers and Ian Bell in a just seven quick overs.
That set good stage for Pietersen, whose century in the first-innings made an advantageous role in that match, to take his team back into the game.
But there were still 15 runs to reach the desired score when South African got a crucial wicket. Pietersen was caught when an inside edge came out of his pad. Left-arm spinner Paul Harris was much glad to get second success.
In spite of the tight game in the initial 11 overs in which England only made 11 runs, England's scoring rate violently raised after that.
Weather was not much supporting and there was a chance that it could spoil their march victory.
All-rounder Andrew Flintoff ended the match in a pleasing style by lifting a ball for a straight six on the delivery of Harris.
Score: England (316 & 198-4) --- South Africa (194 & 318)
Match won by England by six wickets.
