The Hindu : Sport : Pietersen dazzles

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Sunday, Oct 29, 2006
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Pietersen dazzles

G. Viswanath

Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo score centuries

PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK

IN VAIN: Dwayne Bravo's (left) and Chris Gayle's centuries proved futile as England pulled off a thrilling win over the West Indies.

Ahmedabad: Kevin Pietersen dazzled in England's victory over the West Indies in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament here on Saturday.

England scored a three-wicket win over the West Indies. Pietersen fulfilled Andrew Flintoff's wish to leave India with a win. Pietersen's masterly knock (90 not out) contained nine 4s and one 6. He was in supreme command. Pietersen had Sajid Mahmood for company and the two raised 44 runs as England charged towards a memorable victory.

Good partnership

Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell contributed to the England's total with half-centuries. Strauss had cut and driven the West Indies seamers on his way to a 47-ball half-century before Chris Gayle's off breaks brought the fielding side back in the game.

After behaving erratically in the previous four matches, the Motera pitch turned out to be a batsman's paradise. Though 273 looked a tall order, Strauss's brilliant stroke production, Bell's careful approach (he was dropped by Runako Morton on 21) and Flintoff's cameo were superb efforts before Pietersen came up with the match-winning knock with help from the lower order batsmen.

Earlier, the West Indies won the toss and elected to bat. Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo took the centrestage and offered a splendid show.

By the end of the innings, Dwyane Bravo had re-discovered himself as a batsman. Scarcely was there any suggestion of a keen tussle between bat and ball.

Free of tension, Chris Gayle (101) and Bravo (112 not out) sparkled as the West Indies posted 272 on the board.

Gayle and Bravo added 174 off 208 balls before the left-hander was run out to the efforts of Flintoff and the wicketkeeper Chris Read.

Fantastic

"We played for pride and Kevin Pietersen was fantastic. There was a bit of a wobble in the middle, but Kevin steadied the ship and paced out the innings. If he carries on like this we are going to get stronger,'' said the England captain Andrew Flintoff.

The West Indies captain Brian Lara said Ian Bell, Andrew Strauss and Pietersen showed the commitment and drive to do it. "But we are looking forward to the semifinal,'' said Lara.

Gayle was declared the `man of the match' for his all-round effort.

SCOREBOARD

West Indies: C. Gayle (run out) 101, S. Chanderpaul lbw b Lewis 13. D. Bravo (not out) 112, R. Sarwan c Collingwood b Mahmood 29, B. Lara b Mahmood 3, M. Samuels (not out) 3; Extras (lb-1, nb-1, w-9) 11; Total (for four wkts. in 50 overs) 272.

Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-209, 3-259, 4-268.

England bowling: Anderson 10-0-72-0, Lewis 10-1-35-1, Flintoff 5-0-27-0, Mahmood 7-0-44-2, Yardy 5-1-32-0, Dalrymple 10-0-42-0, Collingwood 3-0-19-0.

England: A. Strauss b Gayle 50, I. Bell (run out) 50, A. Flintoff c Taylor b Gayle 25, P. Collingwood c Smith b Gayle 0, K. Pietersen (not out) 90, M. Yardy c Bravo b Samuels 10, J. Dalrymple b Samuels 8, C. Read c Gayle b Bravo 4, S. Mahmood (not out) 14; Extras (lb-11, nb-4, w-10) 25. Total (for seven wkts. in 48.3 overs) 276.

Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-126, 3-127, 4-162, 5-180, 6-214, 7-232.

West Indies bowling: Edwards 7-0-56-0, Taylor 8.3-0-64-0, Collymore 10-1-43-0, Gayle 10-1-31-3, Samuels 10-0-45-2, Bravo 3-0-26-1.

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