LONDON: Kevin Pietersen hit a century in his first match as captain to put England in a powerful position on the second day of the fourth and final Test against South Africa at the Oval on Friday.

England took a first-innings lead of 122 before James Anderson struck with the fifth ball of the second innings to have South African captain Graeme Smith leg before wicket for a duck.

South Africa finished the day on 1-37, still 85 behind.

Pietersen leapt high in the air when he punched Makhaya Ntini through mid-wicket for the boundary that made him only the fourth England captain to make a century in his first match in charge. But two balls later he steered Ntini to Jacques Kallis at a wide second slip to be out for exactly 100, made off 137 balls with 15 fours.

Paul Collingwood hit 61 while tailender Steve Harmison hit a career-best 49 not out to thwart a strong South African comeback after Pietersen's dismissal.