KEVIN PIETERSEN will have risen this morning wondering how people were not talking about his maiden hundred in international cricket after a dramatic tie in the second one-dayer at Goodyear Park.

The Hampshire batsman's superb unbeaten 108 from 96 balls in 142 minutes with five fours and two sixes set England on the way to a total of 270 from their 50 overs.

And it was a contribution which appeared to have shaped the result when South Africa lost two wickets inside their opening 15 overs.

In fact, his unbeaten century appeared futile with South Africa needing only three runs to win off the final five deliveries - but a spectacular comeback from Kabir Ali maintained the tourists' lead in the seven-match series.

Nevertheless, Marcus Trescothick, leading the side in the field due to Michael Vaughan's upset stomach, was full of praise for the Rose Bowl newcomer.

Pietersen is now averaging a remarkable 234 in one-day internationals for England. Since making his debut against Zimbabwe last autumn, he has batted five times in six games and been dismissed just once.

Only last week Pietersen compiled an unbeaten 77 in helping England to beat South Africa A.

"We saw a great innings in Kimberley last week against South Africa A but this was better with the 15,000 crowd and the pressure he was under. It was a big achievement," said Somerset star Trescothick.

Pietersen celebrated reaching three figures by throwing a whirl of upper-cut punches to his team-mates on the balcony and kissing the England badge on his helmet.

He was similarly animated when Geraint Jones' last-ball stumping off Kabir earned a tie, hugging the wicketkeeper off his feet.

Veterans Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock entered the final over needing just eight runs.

In an amazing finale Boucher slammed a waist-high no-ball from Kabir through square-leg for four but picked out Ashley Giles at deep midwicket from the next ball.

Kabir kept the ball full and straight and when Ashwell Prince was run out first ball, South Africa required two runs off as many balls.

Pollock toe-ended a single from the penultimate delivery to leave Kabir's former Worcestershire colleague Andrew Hall on strike.

After much deliberation, Kabir speared in another yorker and Jones, standing up to the stumps, completed a brilliant dismissal.

"I wouldn't say it feels like a win but it is a very, very good feeling because we pulled it out of the fire," added Trescothick.

"If we were on the other side of it we would have been disappointed."

Kabir, bowling for only the second time in limited-overs internationals, thought he had missed the opportunity when Boucher swung powerfully to the ropes from the first ball.

"I just didn't want to look at Tres or anybody," he said. "I just thought 'oh God, what have I done here?'

"I was nervous but I just tried to get as many yorkers in as I could."

Trescothick considered turning to left-arm spinner Giles but chose Kabir despite his previous figures of 7-0-49-1.

"Kabir is our death bowler, he is experienced at it, he has done it millions of times for Worcestershire and is good bowling at the end," said Trescothick.

"He hadn't had the greatest night but he came up with a crucial over. It was a big ask.

"At that point the rest of the game is irrelevant and it is all in your hands.

"But with two guys in there batting, who are close to being the best pair in the world in that situation, I didn't think we could defend three off six balls. It is amazing what pressure does."

South Africa have made a habit of botching chases, incredibly exiting the past two World Cups with tied results.

"It was obviously disappointing that we did not close it off," admitted captain Graeme Smith. "But there are two teams out there and they are allowed to bowl well. They did."