Pietersen carries on his good form

England A 308 for 7 (Pietersen 104, Prior 66, Napier 43*) v South Zone
Scorecard

Kevin Pietersen continued his good form on England A's tour of India with his third century, against South Zone at Gurgaon. He added 143 with Matt Prior, who scored a valuable 66, to help England A to close the opening day at 308 for 7.

Pietersen scored 104 and went some way to rescuing England after they made a stumbling start. After being put in, they lost Scott Newman, Michael Lumb and Ed Smith before lunch.

Newman and Smith made a solid start, putting on 50 before Newman was run out for 31. Lumb did not last long before he was caught off Sunil Joshi for 1, and Smith followed with the total on 98 when he was bowled by Narender Singh for 27.

England A were 99 for 3 at lunch, but dominated the afternoon as Pietersen and Prior looked to attack. Pietersen, however, was caught off the final ball before tea.

Prior followed for 66 soon after the break as three wickets went down for only two runs. England's innings was in danger of a spectacular collapse, but Graham Napier put things back on track with 43 not out.