KP goes Nuts at Guildford

Surrey have had a fantastic third day in the LVCC Division one match against Lancashire at Guildford, thanks to a remarkable double hundred from Kevin Pietersen.

With an overnight score of 425-7, and with more rain forecast, it was surprising that Lancashire continued to  bat. Shahzad and in particular the centurion Croft, came out aggressively and batted for half an hour, allowing Croft to reach his highest First Class score of 154*, declaring on 485-7.

As expected, Ansari and Burns opened up for Surrey, and we got off to a terrible start when Burns left the first ball of the innings from Chapple, and it nipped back and removed his off stump. A complete misjudgment from Burns.

De Bruyn joined Ansari at the crease and the pair consolidated the Lancashire attack well, steadily increasing the run rate heading into the lunch interval. However, 5 minutes before the break, Ansari pushed forward to a ball from Shahzad, and was caught well down at slip. KP was the new man at the crease and he and de Bruyn took us to lunch on 53-2, still trailing by 432. 

After the break. Pietersen started to bat aggressively, and dominate a partnership with de Bruyn. He hit the first six of the innings, when he dispatched Kerrigan into the car park. A shot that would have cleared the boundary anywhere around the world. 

Pietersens dominance was outlined when the 50 partnership was brought up, and he had made 45 of them. His 50 came off just 42 balls including 7 fours as well as that six. De Bruyn was beginning to find some form, as he brought up his third fifty of the summer.

The pair both upped the rate continuously, as they were seemingly trying to beat each other to a century. It was Pietersen who got their first, when he pulled a huge six into Dapdune Wharf. It was off just 92 balls, and the partnership with de Bruyn was mirroring the one he had with Tom Maynard at Guildford last year.

On that occasion, de Bruyn fell just short off his hundred, and unfortunately he did again, as Kerrigan trapped him LBW for 94 as he attempted to sweep. A great knock from the South African, and positive signs that he is beginning to find form. Davies joined KP and they took us to tea on 241-3, trailing by 244, but with 188 runs off the session, it had been a great effort from our guys.

Pietersen carried on his merry way after tea, launching Kerrigan for another six, and hooking Hogg for a maximum. He lost Davies though, when he was caught behind for 22 off Smith. KP went past 150 and with Jason Roy, continued to score at just under 5 an over. 

The run rate then went over 5 an over as Pietersen rocketed through the 160's, 70's and 80's. He whizzed onto 199 but lost the strike and then his partner Jason Roy who was caught down at fine leg for a well made 38.

After being stuck on 199 for more than 20 minutes,  he finally reached his double hundred. It had come off just 170 balls, including 7 huge sixes, and it had been one of the greatest innings you could have wished to see. 

He wasn't finished there though, as he continued to go on an assault of the Lancashire bowlers, and in particular Simon Kerrigan, who had a torrid day. He finished the day unbeaten on 234, and it had been a wonderful day for Surrey.

Some of the shots played today left me and many others speechless. Just some of the best hitting and stroke play you would ever see, and if you were there, then it is a day that you will never forget.

In the context of the game, we have presumably secured a draw now, and with KP still there, we will be looking to score as many runs as possible. We finished on 430-5, trailing by 55, and with the way our batting has gone recently, that is a fantastic effort.

Overall, a fantastic day for all involved with Surrey CCC, and after the difficult times of recent weeks, it shows how much of an impact KP has had on and off the pitch. I really am starting to love him, and let's hope we can see more of him from now on.