KP - “I played the situation”
The Sunfoil Dolphins’ English recruit Kevin Pietersen reflects on his sensational century that saw the Durban outfit to a one-run victory over the Lions on Wednesday.
Pietersen stole the show at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead,
smashing an unbeaten 115 runs off 66 balls to help the Dolphins score 174 in
the first innings – which they managed to defend.
The former England international dazzled the crowd with his big hitting, scoring five 4s and ten sixes. Pietersen said he was buoyed by good preparation.
“It’s just a case of delivering and practicing well. I said it on numerous occasions, if I practice well I’ll give myself a good opportunity to score runs and if I get runs I get them, I won’t treat this any differently to if I got a first baller today,” Pietersen said after the match.
“It is what it is, we won a game and I will reflect on the 100 when I finish playing cricket, we’ve got another game on Friday and we’ll get on there.”
Pietersen constructed a crafty total and managed to anchor the Dolphins when they lost a number of wickets in the middle overs of the innings. Pietersen's patience was the key to his performance.
“I think it’s all about playing the situation. In the first six overs, if there was something in my slot and the fielding restrictions were up I needed to go at it. When the spinners came on I needed to calm down, we lost some wickets so the situation dictated the way I played. I knocked it around a bit, and if it’s up, it’s in the car park once I’m over 40.”
The former Maritzburg College pupil’s innings was also his best ever in T20 cricket and it certainly seemed to be a proud moment for the 35-year-old.
“It is a special moment, doing it for the Dolphins at Kingsmead – back where it all started. It’s pretty cool when I look back at things now, it’s one of my highest scores and hopefully I don’t knock it over in the Big Bash, or hopefully I do for the Big Bash's sake or one of the other T20 competitions. It’s nice to see the Dolphins reflected on my numbers somewhere.”
Sunfoil Dolphins have a Ram Slam T20 date with the Knights in Kimberley tomorrow (6 November 2015) starting 6pm.
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