LONDON, Aug 8: Kevin Pietersen hit a century in his first match as captain to put England in a powerful position on the second day of the fourth and final Test against South Africa at The Oval Friday.

England were 232 for four at tea in reply to South Africa’s total of 194.

Pietersen leapt high in the air when he punched Makhaya Ntini midwicket for the boundary which made him only the fourth England captain to make a century in his first match in charge.

But two balls later he steered Ntini to Jacques Kallis at a wide second slip to be out for exactly 100, made off 137 balls with 15 fours.

Although Pietersen looked furious with himself for his lapse in concentration, he and Paul Collingwood had ensured that England went into the lead with plenty of wickets in hand during a fourth wicket partnership of 108.

Collingwood was unbeaten on 49 at tea. Ntini, who on Thursday evening had captured England opener Andrew Strauss, was the only successful South African bowler, with figures of four for 74.

Pietersen looked in control from the moment he walked out to bat, just four balls into the day’s play after the dismissal of Ian Bell. He was watchful and his stroke play was crisp and judicious as he went to a half-century off 79 balls.

But he had two escapes soon afterwards. A top-edged hook against Morne Morkel when he had 52 landed dangerously close to Ntini, running from long leg.

Nine runs later Pietersen mistimed a pull against Andre Nel and Ntini, at mid-on, turned and made 10m before diving to get his fingertips to the ball.

Played started half an hour late because of rain and the weather was heavily overcast. There was a 10-minute break for bad light in mid-afternoon, causing the tea interval to be delayed.

The South African bowlers were unable to get the movement through the air and off the pitch which their English counterparts did when the tourists were bowled out for 194 on the first day.

After the early dismissal of Bell, caught low down at first slip by South African captain Graeme Smith, Alastair Cook and Pietersen put on 60 for the third wicket.

Cook made 39 before flashing at a wide delivery from Ntini to be caught behind shortly before lunch.

Collingwood opened his score with a risky single to midwicket and would have been well out of his ground had Neil McKenzie’s throw been on target. The only other Englishmen to score centuries in their first match as captain were Archie MacLaren, Allan Lamb and Strauss.

Andrew Flintoff came to the crease after Pietersen departed and hit a straight six down the ground to make his intentions known.

Flintoff, plagued by injury for much of the year, went into tea on nine.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings) 194.

ENGLAND (1st Innings, overnight 49-1):

A.J. Strauss c Smith b Ntini 6

A.N. Cook c Boucher b Ntini 39

I.R. Bell c Smith b Ntini 24

K.P. Pietersen c Kallis b Ntini 100

P.D. Collingwood not out 49

A. Flintoff not out 9

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-1, NB-3) 5

TOTAL (for four wkts, 67 overs) 232

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-51, 3-111, 4-219.

TO BAT: T.R. Ambrose, S.C.J. Broad, S.J. Harmison, J.M. Anderson, M.S. Panesar.

BOWLING (to-date): Morkel 17-1-63-0 (3nb); Ntini 19-3-74-4; Nel 17-5-45-0; Kallis 8-0-36-0 (1w); Harris 6-2-13-0.—Agencies