Pietersen fails to deliver when it matters most for Surrey

Kevin Pietersen’s mission to impress the England selectors suffered a setback as he made only 19 on the ground where he hopes to be appearing on Ashes duty in 80 days’ time.
Surrey's Kevin Pietersen in action at the SWALEC Stadium.Surrey's Kevin Pietersen in action at the SWALEC Stadium.
Surrey's Kevin Pietersen in action at the SWALEC Stadium.

The 34-year-old had not featured in an LV= County Championship game since June 2013, when he made 177 against Yorkshire at Headingley, but he was finally back as Surrey made light of his failure to reach 363-3 on the opening day of their Division Two game at Glamorgan.

Pietersen, who re-signed for Surrey in the belief that scoring runs in the county game will be enough to earn him a Test recall, picked up a fourth boundary with a straight drive off Dean Cosker’s left-arm spin but his 28-ball stay ended when he pushed hard at Craig Meschede’s medium pace and Colin Ingram pouched a straightforward chance at first slip.

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In Pietersen’s absence Kumar Sangakkara (112 not out) and Steven Davies (109 not out) anchored Surrey’s innings to give them a strong start.

Davies said it was a memorable day for him batting with his “hero” Sangakkara and insisted Pietersen would bounce back from failure on the ground where the first Ashes Test will start on July 8.

“Kevin missed out here but I’ve no doubt in my mind he will get the runs he needs to play for England again,” said Davies.

“He’s been great at Surrey, I’ve never had any problems with him, and he looked great last week on a tough wicket at Oxford.

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“Sangakkara was unbelievable. He’s a hero of mine and to play alongside him is a great honour.

“So to get that partnership with him was a special day for me.”

Matt Machan scored a blistering 100-ball 135 but Sussex rather squandered his good work on the first day of their meeting with Worcestershire at Hove.

Machan pulverised Worcestershire’s seam attack, reaching his third first-class hundred with his fourth six and also hitting 18 boundaries.

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But from 161-2 they lost wickets regularly and despite a third successive half-century by Luke Wright (51) failed to claim maximum batting points having been dismissed for 345.

Fast-bowler Boyd Rankin stole the show at Edgbaston, notching a career-best 6-75 as Warwickshire bowled Hampshire out for 319 and then moved to 14-0 in reply.

In Division Two, Jesse Ryder took 5-43 as Essex got Kent out for 193 before Darren Stevens also had joy, taking 3-23, as Essex reached 67-6, trailing by 126 runs, at the end of the day.

Alviro Petersen made 115 on his first-class Lancashire debut and shared a fifth-wicket stand of 135 with captain Tom Smith as they moved to 292-8 on the opening day of their clash with Derbyshire.

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Lancashire cricket director Ashley Giles said: “(We’re) pretty pleased having lost the toss on a wicket that offered a little bit up front.

“Being 5-2 I thought we fought back very well.

“Alviro and Ashwell took the sting out of the Derbyshire attack and Alviro went on and played beautifully.”