Pietersen relishes tourists' pain

1:38pm Saturday 30th August 2008

Kevin Pietersen believes the pressure his England side are exerting on South Africa has left the tourists smarting.

Durban-raised Pietersen knows plenty about South African characteristics and is confident their pride has taken a huge bump with NatWest Series defeat, which was confirmed by a landslide 126-run loss at the Brit Oval on Friday.

"I know South Africans really well - they don't want to lose," Pietersen said, after the latest success was set up by half-centuries from Andrew Flintoff and Ian Bell. "They would have wanted to have beaten us at Trent Bridge and again. They're very, very proud people - very stubborn people."

He added: "It's the pressure that we're putting on their batters, bowling at 90mph - and then our batters are hitting their good deliveries for four and really commanding respect.

"It's definitely hurt them. We're doing a really good job on South Africa - which is great."

Incredibly for a team which has languished in the lower reaches of the official one-day rankings since their inception five years ago, England will leapfrog South Africa into second place with a series whitewash.

"I've thought about it - we've talked about it, and if we keep performing like we are there is no reason why we can't win 5-0," Pietersen said. "It is definitely a goal of ours.

"It puts extra pressure on us, because it takes us up to second - but that's the kind of pressure I want.

"Pressure, I believe, is a privilege."

South Africa struggled after England posted 296 for seven and were hurried to defeat by left-arm spinner Samit Patel, who followed a composed 31 with the bat by claiming five of the final six wickets to fall.

Editor's choice