Kevin Pietersen recovered from being hit by a Chris Tremlett bouncer to help Hampshire beat Surrey on his return to the Rose Bowl.

Pietersen made a crisp ten-ball 15, striking three fours in four deliveries from Tremlett, right, after being hit on the left hand by his former Hampshire and England teammate.

It was a brute of a first delivery, even for a batsman of Pietersen’s class.

He said: “It was the quickest ball I’ve ever seen Goober bowl.

“I asked him where he’d been for 10 years when he ran past me!

“He tried to knock my head off but it’s all good fun. The finger was a bit sore afterwards, but it’s no problem.”

Pietersen enjoyed finishing on the winning side. The Royals posted 201 for 2, which was enough to ensure a ten-run win.

He added: “It was strange because I haven’t been here for a while and there was a lot of banter flying around about whether I needed the postcode or if I’d got the right junction coming off the motorway!

“All of it came from Nic Pothas, but it’s all good fun!

“It’s always enjoyable coming back here. It’s not difficult coming back at all because the boys are such good guys.

“It was a good wicket to bat on and it was lovely to get a win and see some of the fresh talent that is down here.”

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