Pietersen strikes as South Africa bats on

LEEDS (AFP) –

Jacques Rudolph of South Africa plays a shot during the second days play in the second Test match between England and South Africa at Headingley Carnegie in Leeds. England’s part-time spin bowler Kevin Pietersen broke a stubborn South African partnership as Alviro Petersen made a career best score on the second day of the second Test at Headingley

England’s part-time spin bowler Kevin Pietersen broke a stubborn South African partnership as Alviro Petersen made a career best score on the second day of the second Test at Headingley on Friday.

South Africa were 336 for six at lunch, scoring 74 runs during the morning for the loss of Jacques Rudolph’s wicket. Petersen was unbeaten on 170, beating his previous Test best of 156 against New Zealand in Wellington in March.

There was irony for England when Pietersen struck with his second delivery after coming on in the 111thover of the innings.

England left out front-line spinner Graeme Swann, opting for four specialist seam bowlers. But the quick men could not make a breakthrough despite bowling accurately in overcast conditions as Petersen and Rudolph ground out a sixth wicket stand of 59.

Finally England captain Andrew Strauss tossed the ball to Pietersen, whose second ball spun sharply past the bat as the left-handed Rudolph stretched forward defensively.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior whipped off the bails and television umpire Asad Rauf ruled that the batsman had not got part of his foot behind the line in time.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad sent down six successive maidens at the start of the day.

In the fifth over Petersen was given out leg before wicket to Anderson by umpire Steve Davis without adding to his overnight score of 124 but, for the second time in his innings, he called for a review and was reprieved when replays showed the ball would have missed his leg stump.