5 times Kevin Pietersen rescued England across formats

#2 116 – vs South Africa, Centurion 2005

Kevin Pietersen's third century of the ODI series in South Africa in 2005 was the then fastest for England

Brief Scores: South Africa 241/7 in 49 overs (Prince 62*, Smith 47; Wharf 2/51) beat England 240 in 49.5 overs (Pietersen 116, Giles 41; Hall 3/52) by 3 wickets

The seven-match series had so far seen everything – victories for South Africa and one for England, a tie as well as a washout. It also witnessed a bludgeoning Pietersen dictate terms with two rapid centuries in the six matches before this one at Centurion.

For the record, a third one arrived in the dead rubber with the series already gone for England. An unbeaten 108 off 96 balls at Bloemfontein resulted in scores being level, while the then fastest ODI hundred for the country – off 69 balls – in another undefeated innings of 100 saw England fall behind at East London.

And the script at Centurion was no different either. Pietersen contributed 116 from 110 balls – whacking 10 fours and 6 sixes – in a total of 240, which South Africa chased down nervously. Pietersen bashed the pacers at the death, creating a record for the most centuries in a bilateral series, though another loss resulted in a 1-4 series defeat.