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England captain Andrew Flintoff hailed as a special talent after his first innings 142 helped England beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the second Test at Edgbaston here on Sunday.

England chased down their target of 78 for the loss of four wickets, all taken by champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who claimed 10 wickets in the Edgbaston match.

Pietersen was the only England player to score more than 30 in their first innings of 295 and the only one also to counter the threat of Muralitharan.

It was his third century in consecutive home Tests, following his 158 at Lord’s in the drawn first Test and the same score in the fifth match against Australia in September when England clinched the Ashes.

“It’s no secret that the difference was a fine innings by Kevin Pietersen,” Flintoff told a post-match news conference. “It’s an innings that probably will never be repeated unless he plays another one. To play the way he did against the likes of Murali was a fine effort. It is probably the second best hundred to his one at The Oval last year,” Flintoff added.

“I was sat there with my mouth wide open thinking how’s he done that. He comes down the wicket and is flicking his wrist and scoring through the leg side. The reverse sweep for six to Murali, he’s got a technique and a method of his own which he trusts and I’ve not seen anything like it, to be honest. “He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever played with.”

Source:The News