Pietersen double century rescues Nottinghamshire

The South African-born Kevin Pietersen came to Nottinghamshire's rescue as he smashed a run-a-ball 232 not out to dig them out of trouble at 40 for 3 against the Frizzell County Championship Second Division leaders, Middlesex, at Trent Bridge yesterday.

Pietersen joined Darren Bicknell with the side teetering, but the pair turned the innings on its head with a stand of 316.

Bicknell was eventually dismissed by Paul Weekes after a five-hour 108 – his first century of the season – but there was no stopping Pietersen who smashed 30 fours and three sixes as he led the hosts to 416 for 6 at the close.

There was no such saviour for Derbyshire, although they did well to recover from a five-wicket burst from Worcestershire's Alamgir Sheriyar, which reduced the home side to 36 for 5.

Chris Bassano (85) and Graeme Welch (64) put on 127 for the sixth wicket, but with the only double-figure score coming from Muhummad Ali, Derbyshire crawled to 190 all out as Sheriyar finished with 6 for 71.

By the close of play the visitors had reduced the deficit to just one run for the loss of five wickets as Ben Smith (49) Anurag Singh (41) and the Australian Shane Lee (33 not out) all chipped in.