KEVIN PIETERSEN finally won the South African fans over with a century he reckons could be the best he's ever compiled.

The Hampshire sensation struck his third century of the series in Centurion yesterday - 116 off only 110 balls.

But England still lost the match to end up 4-1 losers in the best-of-seven series with one game tied and another rained off.

Pietersen's appearances at the crease before yesterday were greeted with jeers from the South Africans, but even the home fans applauded his latest ton.

Pietersen, pictured left hitting a six yesterday, insisted: "Today's knock was pretty special and it would rank up there as the best hundred I have ever scored.

"To turn the crowd around and have a standing ovation after the first walkout I had at the Wanderers was pretty special.

"Everyone is asking me about my desire to play Test cricket now but I do not select myself: I can only put my hand up for a place in the team by scoring some runs for Hampshire."

Pietersen's power hitting delivered six sixes yesterday to take his tally to 15 in the series and his overall scoring rate was better than a run-a-ball.

Ultimately,his latest ton was not sufficient to prevent South Africa securing a three-wicket victory.

"We have got such a team spirit, just to see the smiles on the boys' faces when I have scored a hundred is fantastic," said South African-born Pietersen, who finished up with 454 runs in six innings against the hosts.

"It would be so much better to see those smiles, and drink a beer with all the boys, happy with a victory. I get a lot of personal satisfaction but I get more out of seeing people laughing, enjoying themselves."

If his maiden century in the tie at Bloemfontein was his most emotional contribution of the tour, this was the most superior, coming as it did from a position of crisis at 68 for six.

It was the kind of innings, featuring mettle and muscle in equal measure, which should put him in line for a Test call this Ashes summer.

Everyone who witnessed it appreciated its merit - quite a contrast to the start of the seven-match series when South Africans were intent on letting their ire at his defection be emphatically known.

England led after one match of the series, tied the next and lost in the final over of the third.

"We lost 4-1 but we pushed a really good South African team on their home soil all the way," said skipper Michael. Vaughan. "Throughout the whole series there were a hell of a lot of positives. The two big games were the ones at Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth.

"We could have gone 3-0 but we didn't and it let South Africa back in."

England return home having achieved their main goal, a Test series victory, but failed against a Proteas side who have now won four straight one-dayers after a previous run of one win in 14.