Kevin Pietersen fails on first county outing as Kumar Sangakkara makes immediate impact for Surrey

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Kevin Pietersen’s attempt to impress the England selectors ended in failure in Cardiff on Sunday afternoon.

  • Kevin Pietersen playing his first County Championship game for two years
  • Pietersen was caught at slip off the bowling off Craig Meschede for 19
  • Kumar Sangakkara scored a debut century for Surrey after KP was out
  • Surrey reach 363 for three at stumps on day one against Glamorgan 

In the same Swalec Stadium arena where Pietersen hopes to be batting against Australia in the first Ashes Test this summer, the Surrey batsman fell for 19 after appearing to be ready to build on the 170 he made against the Oxford students last week.

Pietersen was making his first LV= County Championship appearance since June 2013 in the hope of finding a way back into the England set-up.

The 34-year-old came to the wicket just after lunch with Surrey well placed on 111 for two and he was soon into his stride with two boundaries – one through the legside and the other a fine cover drive – in the same Andy Carter over.

Pietersen was fortunate to escape with a mistimed hook off Graham Wagg, which just beat the fine-leg fielder, but he picked up the fourth boundary of his innings when he drove the ball over the head of left-arm spinner Dean Cosker.

However, his 28-ball stay ended when he pushed hard at Craig Meschede’s medium pace and edged to Colin Ingram at first slip with Surrey reduced to 150 for three.

Sri Lankan star Kumar Sangakkara, making his Surrey debut, outshone Pietersen, scoring a century as the visitors piled on the runs on the first day.

The 37-year-old put together a huge partnership of over 200 with former England one-day wicketkeeper Steven Davies – who also reached three figures – after Pietersen’s departure.