LONDON: Kevin Pietersen’s latest attempt to force his way back into the England reckoning saw him fall cheaply for Surrey on the first day of their County Championship match away to Glamorgan in Cardiff on Sunday.

At Sophia Gardens, the venue for this year’s first Ashes Test against Australia, Pietersen fell for 19 in his first County Championship match.

Last week the 34-year-old Pietersen made 170 for Surrey but that innings, which wasn’t in a first-class match, came against the students of MCC Universities Oxford.

Pietersen has not played for England since being controversially axed last year following the 5-0 Ashes series loss in Australia.

Sunday saw the South Africa-born former England captain come to the crease with Surrey 111 for two on the first day of this Second Division fixture.

He was quickly into his stride with two boundaries but his 28-ball innings ended when he pushed hard at medium-pacer Craig Meschede and saw the ensuing edge held by Colin Ingram at first slip.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2015

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