South Africa were on target to win as Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs put on 134 off 161 balls for the third wicket, then needed just three off the last six balls with inexperienced Kabir Ali bowling for England. The over had started with South Africa needing eight runs with five wickets in hand. Ali bowled a high full toss which was called no-ball and hit for four by Boucher. But Boucher hit the next ball, another full toss, to Ashley Giles at deep midwicket.
Shaun Pollock took a single but Ashwell Prince was run out off the first ball he faced as he fed the strike back to Pollock. Another single from Pollock left new batsman Andrew Hall facing the last delivery. Ali bowled it full and just outside off stump, Hall missed and Geraint Jones made a stumping as Hall stepped out of his crease.
The result meant England stayed 1-0 ahead in the seven-match series. South Africa have won only one of their last 14 matches but captain Graeme Smith said his players had put in a big team effort. "It was disappointing not to win but we move to Port Elizabeth (for the third match) and we will take a lot of confidence there. When you go through a trough like we've done it's important to get that confidence back and learn how to win games."
Playing in his sixth one-day international, Pietersen, 24, celebrated his maiden century by repeatedly kissing the England badge on his helmet. It was an emphatic riposte to South African crowds who have given him a hostile reception after he made some outspoken comments about his allegiance to his adopted country.
Pietersen was not originally selected for the series in South Africa but was called up after some impressive performances in his debut series in Zimbabwe last November.
Wednesday's innings took his total of international runs to 234 in five innings. He has only been dismissed once. "It's fantastic. I'm just thrilled to be on this tour and representing England," said Petersen, who praised Kabir Ali. "He showed the biggest bit of character and did a great job." The hard-hitting Pietersen, who started his first-class career for KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa before taking advantage of a British passport to play county cricket for Nottinghamshire and qualify for England, shared stands of 80 with skipper Vaughan (42) and 92 with Paul Collingwood (40). England made a flying start when Trescothick and Geraint Jones put on 52 for the first wicket in 10.1 overs but the South African bowlers pegged back their opponents, who struggled to 67 for three before Vaughan and Pietersen came together.
Smith and De Villiers were out in quick succession as the total reached 51 but Kallis and Gibbs showed their experience as they kept South Africa on target with skilful batting.
.SCOREBOARD ENGLAND:
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M.Trescothick b Pollock 37
G.Jones c Ntini b Nel 20
M.Vaughan run out (De Villiers) 42
A.Strauss c Boucher b Hall 2
K.Pietersen not out 108
P.Collingwood c Villiers b Ntini 40
I.Bell not out 11
EXTRAS: (LB-3, NB-2, W-5) 10
TOTAL: (for five wickets, 50 overs) 270
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Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-60, 3-67, 4-147, 5-239.
BOWLING: Pollock 10-1-52-1, Ntini 10-0-51-1 (1w), Nel 10-0-54-1, Hall 10-0-50-1 (2nb), Smith 2-0-10-0 (2w), Kallis 4-0-24-0 (1w), Kemp 4-0-26-0.
DID NOT BAT: A Giles, Kabir Ali, D Gough, M Hoggard.
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SOUTH AFRICA
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G.Smith c Jones b Hoggard 25
A.de Villiers c sub b Kabir 20
J.Kallis c Trescothick b Giles 63
H.Gibbs c Gough b Hoggard 78
J.Kemp b Gough 32
M.Boucher c Giles b Kabir Ali 15
S.Pollock not out 17
A.Prince run out (Bell) 0
A.Hall st Jones b Kabir Ali 0
EXTRAS: (B-4, LB-6, NB-5, W-5) 20
TOTAL: (for 8 wickets, 50 overs) 270
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FALL OF WICKETS: 1-47, 2-51, 3-185, 4-237, 5-239, 6-268, 7-269, 8-270.
BOWLING: Gough 10-0-49-1 (2w), Hoggard 10-1-42-2 (2w), Kabir Ali 8-0-56-3 (5nb), Collingwood 10-0-42-0, Giles 8-0-46-1 (1w), Trescothick 4-0-25-0. Did not bat: M Ntini, A Nel.
RESULT: Match tied.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Kevin Pietersen (ENG).
SERIES: England lead seven-match series 1-0.
UMPIRES: B Jerling (RSA), S Taufel (AUS). TV umpire: I Howell (RSA)
MATCH REFEREE: R Madugalle (SRI)
NEXT MATCH: Port Elizabeth, Friday.