http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bull-c48831 by the horns – Cricket News Update
Former South African seamer, Shaun Pollock, credited http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806 for taking the attack to the Proteas’ pacers however, rued his team’s failure to adjust their short-ball policy, amid the assault.
The events on the third day of the second Test turned on its head by the defiance of KP, whose unbeaten 149 single-handedly aided his side to a miraculous recovery after another nervy start had given the opposition ascendency.
His innings saw http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757’s first innings score of 419. After being criticized for his egoistic style of play in the opening Test, which swiftly saw him handing his wicket to the opponents, Pietersen took the same approach, only to earn praise for his stunning counter-attacking display.
Having started solidly without being flashy – making 43 off 83 balls – the middle-order batter then dismantled the Proteas attack, making a mockery of the short-ball ploy, which had come to his demise at the Oval, and went on to add 106 in the final session.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DW-Steyn-c1409 suffered the most from the player’s onslaught, going for 64, which included 12 boundaries and a majestic straight six.
The remaining bowlers had their fair share, as KP romped to a 21st career Test century. He further reached 7000 runs and became the fastest man to do so. His innings earned compliment from all quarters, with Pollock praising his approach of taking the game to the opposition.
"Pietersen was premeditating some of those shots and he took the bull by the horns and it paid off for him. So all credit to him. After the innings at the Oval, they (the South Africans) were not too sure how he would cope with the short ball. But once they realised he was going to take it on, they do have to change.”
"You do start to feel the pressure as a bowler when someone is playing like that. You have to have your wits about you because if you miss anything you are going to go to the boundary," he added.
Tags: