Former South African fast bowling great Allan Donald compared Kevin Pietersen to West Indian legend Brian Lara after the England batsman hit his team back into the second Test with a spectacular century on the third day at Headingley on Saturday.

Pietersen launched a savage assault after tea, hitting 149 not out as England reached 5-351 at the close, 68 behind South Africa’s first innings total of 419.

“He played seriously well,” said Donald, South Africa’s bowling coach.

“It reminds me of when I ran into Brian Lara, something in the category of a bit of a genius to play knocks like that.”

Pietersen rated his past two centuries, one in extreme heat against Sri Lanka in Colombo and Saturday’s 212-ball effort, the best two of his Test career.

“Today was against an unbelievable bowling attack that keeps coming at you and never gives in. To get runs against that attack is something I will always cherish.”

Pietersen said he was flattered to hear that Donald had compared him to Lara.

“Allan Donald was one of my heroes growing up, so that’s special,” he said.

“I’ve never batted better in my life.”

On a day when fortunes turned dramatically against them in an extended afternoon session, South Africa suffered a further blow shortly before the close when captain Graeme Smith had to be helped from the field after injuring his left knee in chasing a ball to the boundary.

Until Pietersen cut loose, South Africa had been ahead in a battle of attrition as England struggled to 4-173 at less than three runs an over.

Alastair Cook (24), Andrew Strauss (37) and Jonathan Trott (35) all fell to disciplined bowling after lengthy but not particularly productive stays at the crease.

South Africa struck what seemed a crucial blow shortly before tea when Ian Bell was caught at first slip off Jacques Kallis for 11, leaving Pietersen to rebuild the innings together with debutant James Taylor, who made 34 of their 147-run partnership.

The match changed after the break. South Africa brought back fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel to put pressure on the diminutive Taylor but it was Pietersen who took charge, slamming 26 runs off 11 balls in a thrilling passage of play.

Pietersen was dropped at short leg by Hashim Amla off Morkel on 52 but then thrashed the next two balls to the midwicket boundary on his way to becoming the eighth English batsman to score 7000 Test runs.