Pietersen and Strauss hit form ahead of South Africa Given that he tends not to spurn the opportunity to make a point, Kevin Pietersen will have drawn particular enjoyment from his double hundred against Lancashire yesterday. It came in the first match involving the England batsman and the Lancashire coach, Peter Moores, since the falling out that cost both their jobs in 2009. Pietersen quit the captaincy and Moores was sacked as coach after Pietersen went public about their strained relationship. Making his second appearance of the season in the Championship for Surrey, Pietersen was at his best to see off the threat of a heavy defeat after Lancashire had declared at 485 for 7 on the third day at Guildford. Coming in at 49 for 2, he shared a partnership of 181 in 34 overs with the all-rounder Zander de Bruyn, during which he reached 100 off only 93 balls, having hit three sixes off the Lancashire left-arm spinner, Simon Kerrigan. Kerrigan dismissed De Bruyn, leg before sweeping, for 94, but Pietersen was not finished. Showing Kerrigan no mercy, he added another 50 from only 37 balls to pass 150 for the 19th time in his first-class career, having hit the 23-year-old for two more sixes, and when he added a sixth maximum - this time off a pace bowler, Kyle Hogg - he was clearly intent on turning his 43rd career century into a seventh double. He reached that milestone from 170 balls just before the close, having hit a seventh six - again off Kerrigan, whose first 21 overs cost 137 runs, 101 of them off Pietersen's bat. His fierce hitting somewhat overshadowed a fine innings by Steven Croft, who extended his century to a career-best 154 not out before Lancashire's captain, Glen Chapple, declared after his dismissal for 46. The Pietersen innings came as a timely demonstration of his quality after reports that the door has not been completely closed on him helping England defend the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September. The England and Wales Cricket Board has insisted that Pietersen's retirement from 50-over internationals rules him out of the shortest format as well under the terms of his contract but the player's representatives have reportedly been in talks with the ECB about a possible compromise. No such side issues are distracting Pietersen's successor as England Test captain. Middlesex's Andrew Strauss finished unbeaten on 127 against Nottinghamshire when weather intervened again at Uxbridge. Strauss, who has three centuries in his last seven innings, including two in the Test series against West Indies, reached 100 from 157 balls, with the last 38 runs coming off only 24 deliveries. He took a particular shine to his England team-mate Samit Patel, against whose left-arm spin he hit 45 runs from 51 balls, including a six and four fours. Despite 50 from Strauss, Middlesex were bowled out for 98 in the first innings before Nottinghamshire replied with 329 but they lead by eight with eight wickets in hand. At the Ageas Bowl, the Yorkshire opener Joe Root confirmed his Test potential with a maiden double century against Hampshire, finishing unbeaten on 222 when Yorkshire declared at 350 for 9. The 21-year-old, whose two other centuries this season include 115 for England Lions against West Indies, hit 26 fours and three sixes. South Africa dismissed Kent for 210 on the first day at Canterbury, the leg-spinner Imran Tahir taking 4 for 31, but they lost their captain, Graeme Smith, in reply, caught behind off the bowling of Charlie Shreck. There was no play between Warwick-shire and Sussex at Edgbaston; nor at New Road, where Worcestershire drew with Durham before confirming that their former England one-day international batsman, Vikram Solanki, will not be offered a new contract.