LIVE CRICKET: All eyes on new captain Pietersen as England hope to build on fine first day

1508 - ENGLAND 191-3 Big over for Pietersen and England, with three superb fours off Morkel. A pull, straight drive and square cut. Only a fine stop from Harris just inside the ropes prevents a fourth boundary.

14.55 ENGLAND 171-3. With his confidence restored after a century at Edgsbaston, Collingwood is proving to be the perfect foil for Pietersen. And he smashes Nel to the boundary to move to 30.

14.23: ENGLAND 151-3. Pietersen has a major escape, as a top edge off Morkel flies to deep backward square leg. Ntini and Harris converge on the ball, Ntini eventually decides to go for it, but misjudges the flight of the ball and only clutches at thin air

14.06: ENGLAND 143-3.  Pietersen reaches his 50 with a delightful powerful pull shot to the boundary. You have to hand it to Pietersen so far in this match - aside from losing the toss (and you can't really blame a man for that) he hasn't put a foot wrong.

13.44: ENGLAND 117-3. Play back under way at The Oval - if England can get through this session unscathed, or perhaps losing just one wicket, they will be strong favourites to win this Test.

13.02: ENGLAND 116-3. LUNCH AT THE OVAL: Pietersen is unbeaten on 42, Collingwood on 1.

12.52: WICKET! ENGLAND 111-3.  Cook c Boucher b Ntini 39 Nelson strikes, as Cook edges behind to give Ntini his second wicket.

12.28: ENGLAND 91-2. New bowler Kallis is wide of the mark, and Pietersen flicks him away for four. Pietersen looking good here - we all know about the great sporting scripts, but dare I suggest a three figure score from the new captain.

12.00: ENGLAND 69-2. A decent delivery from Morkel flicks Cook's pad on the way through to Boucher, and the South African appeal for a wicket is unsuccessful.

11.48: ENGLAND 68-2. Pietersen clips Ntini through mid-wicket for a delightful four.

Makhaya Ntini claims the wicket of Ian Bell

11.37: ENGLAND 53-2. Pietersen comes to the crease and plays and misses at his first delivery. He clips his second off his legs to get off the mark.

11.32: WICKET! ENGLAND 51-2. Bell c Smith b Ntini 24. The worst start for England as they lose a wicket in the opening over. Bell tentatively plays forward to Ntini and Smith dives to catch low down at first slip.

It worked - play will begin at 11.30am.

Rain rain go away, come back another day.

The covers are coming on in south London and the start of play will be delayed.

All eyes will be on new captain Kevin Pietersen, in his first innings as England captain.

New captain Kevin Pietersen was delighted with the bowling of Steve Harmison on his return

The hosts resume on 49-1, 145 runs behind South Africa after the tourists were bowled out for 194 yesterday.

England will hope to build on their fine first day of the fourth Test at The Oval.