Kevin Pietersen blasted Hampshire to a dramatic C & G Trophy win against Essex, and then admitted: "I wish I could play more county games."

The England batsman's appearances for Hampshire are limited as he is contracted by the England and Wales cricket Board.

England coach Duncan Fletcher believes Pietersen needs rest more than he does time in the middle after a long winter and a gruelling schedule ahead.

So the former Notts batsman is unlikely to play any championship games this season

But in his first appearance for the county since last year's C & G Trophy final at Lord's, Pietersen scored 98 from 74 balls, his highest score in ten one-day games for Hampshire, as Essex were beaten by eight runs.

Pietersen, below, admitted: "I love batting and being out in the middle, it's my passion and my hobby and something I love doing.

"Wherever I can fit Hampshire in I definitely will do. It's a fantastic dressing room, the boys are brilliant and Shane's a great man to play under.

"The coach, the managers and the backroom staff make it a pleasure to be involved so I definitely wish I could play more for Hampshire, but the next 12-18 months with England are absolutely mental.

"There's truckloads of cricket coming up with the Sri Lanka and Pakistan series and then we're in Australia for three-and-a-half-months before the ICC World Cup."

Pietersen will also be playing in the next C & G Trophy game against Middlesex at Uxbridge on Sunday as he prepares for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's on May 11.

"If I bowled as much as Fred Flintoff or the other blokes it would be different because that can hurt your body a lot more, but I thought it would be good to hit a few balls and have two innings before the first Test," continued Pietersen.

"I'm playing situations a lot better.

"There are a lot of kind words written about me but there are always things to learn, like batting on early-season wickets.

"It's totally different, it tunes your mind, your body and your technique and tests you out.

"There's a fine line between success and failure in sport, especially cricket, and that's why I love the game. I want to become the best player I can possibly be."