Kevin Pietersen © Getty Images
Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen completed his five-match South African Twenty20 Challenge contract by scoring 59 runs for the Dolphins in Centurion on Sunday. The 35-year-old South Africa-born batting star struck six fours and three sixes in a 35-ball innings at SuperSport Park beside the Johannesburg-Pretoria highway. Pietersen was caught by West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard off the bowling of Wayne Parnell two balls into the 11th over of a fifth-round match against the Cape Cobras. He made 22, 115 not out, 100 not out and 68 in previous innings for the Dolphins, making him the leading Challenge scorer and helping the Durban franchise to four consecutive victories and top place.
Pietersen has become a travelling batsman-for-hire, arriving in South Africa from the Caribbean and he is scheduled to play for the Melbourne Stars in the Australian Big Bash League later November. An outspoken cricketer who often clashed with team-mates and officials, Pietersen last played for England on a 2013-2014 tour of Australia.
Last week, Kevin Pietersen failed Sunday to score a third consecutive South African Twenty20 Challenge ton after being dismissed for 68 in Durban. The former England skipper and batting star slammed an unbeaten 115 for Durban franchise Dolphins last Wednesday followed by an undefeated 100 two days ago.
South Africa-born Pietersen was caught by Warriors’ Basheeru-Deen Walters off the bowling of Colin Ackermann at Kingsmead Stadium after a knock including six fours and four sixes.
It was the fourth appearance for Dolphins in eight days by the T20 batsman-for-hire, who came to South Africa from the Caribbean and will play in the Australian Big Bash League this month. An outspoken cricketer who often clashed with officials and team-mates, Pietersen last played for England on a 2013-2014 tour of Australia.