'I now feel so loved '

South Africa-born Kevin Pietersen said he felt "as English as anyone" after marking his first Test innings against the Proteas with an unbeaten 104 at Lord's yesterday.

The crowd at the normally reserved 'home of cricket' were almost as overjoyed as Pietersen himself and their reaction was not lost on the 28-year-old.

"It was one of the most emotional two minutes of my career so far. The crowd made me feel so loved," said Pietersen.

"Before there was a lot of speculation about me being from South Africa but for the crowd to be like that was unbelievable. There was a lot of nonsense before but now I feel as English as anyone."

But Pietersen admitted this innings had taken him aback. "Sometimes in life the script is written and someone was writing a pretty incredible one for me today.

"It's all about sport and I am so humbled by the support I've been given."

Pietersen's decision to quit his homeland in order to play for England, the land of his mother's birth, has proved controversial in both South Africa and England.

However, Pietersen insisted any ill-feeling was now all in the past: "I've no problems with any of the South Africans. Graeme and I had a bit of an altercation four years ago but that's gone.

"Andre Nel gave me a hug and they were brilliant with me today."



Bell tolls on

Ian Bell scored the second century of England's innings as the hosts reached 519-6 midway through the second session on the second day of the first cricket Test against South Africa at Lord's.

England had resumed this morning from their overnight score of 309-3 and Pietersen stormed to 152 before being dismissed by Morne Morkel.

Bell, still at the crease, was on 169 with Stuart Broad on 40 as England looked well in control.