LONDON // Kevin Pietersen celebrated his first innings as England captain with a century, leading the hosts to a 122-run first-innings lead over South Africa on the second day of the fourth Test at The Oval.
South Africa, bowled out for 194 in the first innings, were 37 for one at the close in reply to England's 316.
James Anderson trapped skipper Graeme Smith lbw for nought in the first over. Neil McKenzie was nine not out at stumps and Hashim Amla unbeaten on 26.
The swashbuckling Pietersen, five days into the skipper's job, rode his luck and was dropped twice but also hit 15 fours before falling for 100.
He was removed by paceman Makhaya Ntini, who finished with five for 94.
South Africa fought back after tea, capturing six wickets for 84 runs despite a lively cameo from the recalled Steve Harmison.
The Durham paceman followed up Thursday's fine bowling display with 49, his highest Test score, and shared a 53-run ninth-wicket partnership with Anderson (13).
A spell of three for 15 from Jacques Kallis after tea removed Andrew Flintoff (nine), Paul Collingwood (61) and Tim Ambrose (four).
Earlier, Pietersen, who was born in South Africa and took over the captain's role from Michael Vaughan after the visitors had clinched the series at Edgbaston, came to the crease to warm applause in the first over of the day after Ntini had Ian Bell caught at slip for 24.
Pietersen put on 60 with Alastair Cook before the opener was caught behind just before lunch for 39.
Ntini, who took the wicket of Andrew Strauss on Thursday, had little luck after lunch.
He chased a Pietersen miscue ahead of teammate Paul Harris, who was closer to the ball, but failed to hold on at deep square leg with the batsman on 61.
After a brief break for bad light, Pietersen again sent a ball high to the boundary and Ntini put down a difficult running chance over his shoulder.
Otherwise Pietersen, the fourth England captain to score a century in his first innings in the job after Archie MacLaren in 1897, Allan Lamb in 1990 and most recently Andrew Strauss, played a measured knock, punishing loose deliveries and stroking the ball all around the ground.
He was desperate to salvage pride from the dead rubber and reached his century after a nervous few overs in the 90s, with a four to the midwicket boundary.
Pietersen raised his arms and danced across the pitch in celebration, waving his bat at the pavilion. Two balls later he was back there with his teammates, however, after playing at a wide ball and nicking a catch to Kallis at slip.
He had put on 108 for the fourth wicket with Collingwood.
Flintoff, plagued by injury this year, came to the crease after Pietersen departed and hit a straight six down the ground but was then caught behind in the first over after tea.
Wicketkeeper Ambrose lasted only 14 minutes before sending a catch to Smith and Collingwood was caught and bowled by Kallis when the ball ballooned off the shoulder of his bat.
Ntini took his fifth wicket, completing his 18th five-wicket haul in Tests, when Stuart Broad (one) offered a catch to McKenzie.
It was Harmison who put England in pole position late in the day, flaying the bowling with his unorthodox attacking shots.
He missed out on his half century when Anderson was out lbw padding up to a straight ball and last man Monty Panesar was run out attempting to get Harmison his 50.
*Reuters
KLOPP AT LIVERPOOL
Years: October 2015 - June 2024
Total games: 491
Win percentage: 60.9%
Major trophies: 6 (Premier League x 1, Champions League x 1, FA Cup x 1, League Cup x 2, Fifa Club World Cup x1)
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Bridgerton season three - part one
Directors: Various
Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 3/5
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Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
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Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Director: Peyton Reed
Stars: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors
Rating: 2/5
ILT20 UAE stars
LEADING RUN SCORERS
1 Nicholas Pooran, 261
2 Muhammad Waseem (UAE), 248
3 Chris Lynn, 244
4 Johnson Charles, 232
5 Kusal Perera, 230
BEST BOWLING AVERAGE
(minimum 10 overs bowled)
1 Zuhaib Zubair (UAE), 9 wickets at 12.44
2 Mohammed Rohid (UAE), 7 at 13.00
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4 Waqar Salamkheil, 10 at 14.08
5 Aayan Khan (UAE), 4 at 15.50
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WISH
Directors: Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn
Stars: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk
Rating: 3.5/5
2019 ASIAN CUP FINAL
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Director: Adam Wingard
Starring: Brian Tyree Henry, Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens
Rating: 4/5
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Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
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ANATOMY OF A FALL
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Indika
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Lamborghini LM002
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TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
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UAE and THAAD:
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RESULT
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Bayern Munich 4
Leverkusen: Alario (9'), Wirtz (89')
Bayern: Coman (27'), Goretzka (42'), Gnabry (45'), Lewandowski (66')
Williams at Wimbledon
Venus Williams - 5 titles (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008)
Serena Williams - 7 titles (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016)
Representing UAE overseas
If Catherine Richards debuts for Wales in the Six Nations, she will be the latest to have made it from the UAE to the top tier of the international game in the oval ball codes.
Seren Gough-Walters (Wales rugby league)
Born in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, and once an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi, she debuted for Wales in rugby league in 2021.
Sophie Shams (England sevens)
With an Emirati father and English mother, Shams excelled at rugby at school in Dubai, and went on to represent England on the sevens circuit.
Fiona Reidy (Ireland)
Made her Test rugby bow for Ireland against England in 2015, having played for four years in the capital with Abu Dhabi Harlequins previously.
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