Kevin Pietersen powers England to victory over Pakistan
A Kevin Pietersen-powered England have sent a warning to the remaining sides in the World Twenty20 with a confident six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the opening Super Eight match.
KP finished with an unbeaten 73 and was the star in what was a solid all-round performance from England, who were sharp in the field – none sharper than Pietersen who ran around the boundary to take a wonderful catch to dismiss Umar Akbal - and spread the wickets evenly between their bowlers, with Michael Yardy, Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom all taking two wickets each.
Pakistan’s innings began in style with Kamran Akmal’s pull shot for six off the first ball of the day but that same panache was sorely lacking in Shahid Afridi’s first ball run-out, with the Pakistan skipper attempting a run that to all other observers clearly didn’t exist. Yes, Pakistan’s 20 overs with the bat was nothing if not entertaining.
Still, by the end of their innings Pakistan had amassed a competitive total of 147-9 to place some pressure on England for the run chase.
Poor fielding, however, did nothing to assist Pakistan’s cause as England chased down the 148-run target they’d been set in the opening Super Eight match between the sides.
The finger must point squarely at Saeed Ajmal as the chief culprit of Pakistan’s fielding woes, and after three missed catches at mid-on, he was given a change of scenery by his skipper.
While the second chance Craig Kieswetter provided was a finger-tipper that ultimately found the boundary, Ajmal must take full responsibility that he was still at the crease at that point after a sitter bobbled out of his hands a few balls earlier.
Kieswetter’s opening partner, Michael Lumb, was the next to take advantage of Ajmal’s generosity as the fielder tripped over himself in his efforts to make amends for his earlier efforts. Needless to say, he didn’t.
Fortunately for the hapless Ajmal, his bowling was better than his fielding and he was first to make the breakthrough, with Kamran Akmal stumping Lumb for 25 from a well flighted delivery the next over.
Kieswetter’s luck ran out on 25, when he hit a rainmaker (fortunately the heavens didn’t oblige) to long on and Umar Akmal held onto the catch.
Due for an influential innings at the World Twenty20, the only thing that looked like it might stop Kevin Pietersen was an unfortunate altercation between his bat and his ankle, which left the former England captain in a degree of pain on the ground.
Another tough chance went begging when Pietersen sent an Abdul Razzaq delivery back to the bowler with interest, but nothing was going to stand between KP and his half-century at Kensington Oval, as he took command of the England run-chase and with three balls to spare hit the winning run for his side.
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