5 times Kevin Pietersen rescued England across formats

#4 149 vs South Africa, Headingley 2012

An attacking 149 from Kevin Pietersen at Headingley in 2012 gave England a lead against South Africa

Brief Scores: South Africa 419 (Petersen 182, Smith 52; Broad 3/96) and 258/9 dec (Rudolph 69; Broad 5/69, Pietersen 3/52) drew with England 425 (Pietersen 149, Prior 68; Tahir 3/68) and 130/4 (Cook 46, Trott 30*; Duminy 1/10)

England had to ensure a draw at Headingley kept them alive in the three-match series. After the hosts were 173/4 – less than half of South Africa's 419 – Pietersen formed a partnership of 147 with debutant James Taylor, where the former's aggression eventually gave England the lead. Pietersen took most liking to the pace of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, with his only six – a gorgeous lofted straight hit – coming off Steyn, the ball landing miles away.

Pietersen raised his 21st Test hundred, an innings typical of him where he threatened to get out at times, and in South Africa's second innings, even took career-best figures of 3/52. In a bold declaration, Graeme Smith asked England to chase 253 in 39 overs, and England sent Pietersen to open. Rain also played its part in a draw, as, ironically, Man of the Match Pietersen was dropped for the series decider at Lord's after accusations of sending derogatory texts to the opposition about his captain Andrew Strauss.