England's Kevin Pietersen on the go during the first day of the first Test at Lord's cricket ground, yesterday. Pietersen scored an unbeaten 104. - AP

LONDON (AP):

Kevin Pietersen scored a belligerent century yesterday to put England firmly in control of the first Test against South Africa after the opening day at Lord's.

After being sent in to bat, England finished on 309 for three wickets after a wobble midway through the afternoon session when they lost those three wickets for the addition of just three runs.

Pietersen, who was felled by a bouncer from Dale Steyn at the start of his innings, powered his way to 104 not out in his first Test against the country of his birth.

Ian Bell, with whom Pietersen has added 192 runs for the fourth wicket, will resume today on 75.

Great achievement

Pietersen admitted that scoring a century at Lord's against South Africa was one of the greatest achievements of his career.

"I'd say it's on a par with the 158 I scored against Australia during the Ashes," Pietersen said. "The crowd just kept on applauding - they were magnificent. I feel so, so loved. It was one of the most emotional two minutes of my career."

Pietersen has a phenomenal record against the South Africans. When he made his debut for the England one-day team in South Africa in 2005, he made three centuries in a row.

Yesterday, he began quietly. He could have been run out without scoring, but Hasim Amla failed to collect Makhaya Ntini's wild throw with Pietersen well short of his ground.

Astonishing shots

After tea, though, Pietersen played an array of astonishing shots. He took a particular shine to left-arm spinner Paul Harris, hitting 11 in one over that included a huge six over long off.

Morne Morkel, the South African pace bowler, said that Pietersen put the bowlers under immense pressure.

"It was a fantastic knock from KP," Morkel said. "Your margin of error when bowling to him is just so small. You really have to be so tight with him."

Pietersen brought up his 13th Test century, from 127 balls, with a handsome cut for four off Morkel.