The most emotional ton of Pietersen's career: 'I have never felt so English'

Masterful: Pietersen celebrates century

Kevin Pietersen hit a superlative unbeaten century against the country of his birth to put England in a formidable position in the first npower Test at Lord's and then said: 'I have never felt so English.'

Pietersen was masterful in striking 104 in England's 309 for three as Graeme Smith's decision to bowl spectacularly backfired.

And the man who threw in his lot with England after becoming disillusioned with South African cricket received a stirring ovation on reaching three figures from a packed Lord's crowd - who once and for all have accepted Pietersen as one of their own.

'The way they appreciated my hundred gave me the most emotional two minutes of my career,' said the 28-year-old.

'The response was magnificent and made me feel so, so loved.

'There has been so much nonsense and so much said about me since I came to this country that this was on a par with my hundred in the 2005 Ashes.

'I knew I had to play well to get people on my side when I first came to this country but I can't thank them enough for what they did today. Sitting here now, I have never felt so English.'

Pietersen was once accused of being a traitor by South Africa captain Smith and responded by calling his rival a 'muppet'.

But Smith joined in the applause, along with the bulk of his side, for Pietersen's hundred and said well done to his old adversary just after England's No 4 had reached his ton.

'The South African players have all been fantastic,' said Pietersen.

'I have no problem with them. Any bad feeling between me and Graeme is in the past. Someone is writing an incredible script for me.'

South Africa paceman Morne Morkel accepted Pietersen had shown great class. 'His strokeplay was unbelievable,' said Morkel.

'We have a lot of respect for him.'