Pietersen out for two-ball duck

Pietersen is looking to work his way back into form (GETTY IMAGES)

Kevin Pietersen's struggles with the bat continued today as he was out for a two-ball duck for the Dolphins against the Titans under overcast skies in Durban.

The England batsman, who is looking to regain his form ahead of this winter's Ashes, is currently involved in the second of a two-game stint with the Kwa-Zulu Natal union.

Having made an attacking 36 in his only chance to bat against the Warriors in Pietermaritzburg eight days ago, he was searching for more time in the middle at Kingsmead on day two of the four-day SuperSport Series encounter.

But with the ball seaming around in the coastal city, the home side were in all sorts of trouble responding to the Titans' 242 and were reduced to 19 for two after 8.1 overs when Pietersen walked in.

The right-hander let the first ball go through outside off-stump, but was given out next ball when he was rapped on the pads in front of the stumps by Ethy Mbhalati, who took his third wicket in the process.

Pietersen is desperate to get back to his best for the series in Australia after a mediocre summer in which he made just one score of over 50 in Test cricket.

He last scored a Test century on the tour of West Indies last March and was dropped for the recent limited-overs series against Pakistan due to poor form.