CRICKET: England captain Andrew Flintoff hailed Kevin Pietersen as a "special talent" after his first innings 142 helped England beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the second Test.

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.

Pietersen was named man-of-the-match, ahead of Muralitharan and Sri Lanka opener Michael Vandort, who scored a patient 105 in Sri Lanka's second innings.

"It's no secret that the difference was a fine innings by Kevin Pietersen," Flintoff said.

"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, when asked where the innings ranked in England's recent history.

"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. Hopefully he can kick on and get better and better.

"I think he is someone really special, and that's no secret. He's only played a handful of Test matches as well, and I'm excited to play with Kevin over the next few years to see how his career unfolds.

"Hopefully by then people are talking about who will be the new Kevin Pietersen and think of him in the same regard as they do Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara."

Meanwhile, England's regular captain, Michael Vaughan, has been named in Yorkshire's squad for a one-day match against Scotland on Monday and is expected to play his first game of the year.

Vaughan has not played since Lahore against Pakistan in November because of a persistent knee injury.

"It's great news for us and for Vaughany," Flintoff said.

"He's been doing his rehab and he's finally going to play a game of cricket.

"We want him back in the side as soon as we can."