Player of the Match
Player of the Match
2129dThe Bulletin by Andrew Miller

Pietersen seals England victory

Kevin Pietersen returned to form with a confident 52-ball 70 not out, as England's powerful new batting line-up capitalised on a spirited display from their bowlers to ease along to a comfortable six-wicket victory

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

KP Pietersen
73(52) 8x4 - 2x6
  • Productive Shot
  • off side drive on front foot
  • 27 runs
  • 3x4 - 2x6
0 1 11 8 16 20 4 13
Salman Butt
Salman Butt
34(26) 3x4 - 1x6
  • Productive Shot
  • cut shot on back foot
  • 9 runs
  • 2x4 - 0x6
0 2 3 3 9 3 4 10

Best performances - Bowlers

Saeed Ajmal
Saeed Ajmal
O3.3
M0
R18
W2
Eco5.14
RHB
OFFLEG
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
MH Yardy
MH Yardy
O4
M0
R19
W2
Eco4.75
RHB
OFFLEG
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF

Pakistan have been flattened by a great innings from Pietersen. He was authoritative from the start, hitting the ball very hard, collecting boundaries from bad balls and working the good ones away for singles and twos. Pakistan were a disappointment in the field after scrapping their way to 147, dropping easy chances and missing what should have been a simple run out in the penultimate over. They are not down and out yet, but they will need to search for some inspiration in their remaining games.

Lots of you have questioned Afridi's tactics in this game, particularly his rotation of the bowlers in the middle overs. Indeed, what Pakistan really needed was for their spinners to get some rhythm with a good spell in the middle, as England's did, to keep the runs down as England chased a modest target. It is also unclear what Fawad Alam's role in the side is, as he bats at No. 8 and doesn't bowl.

"You can't afford to miss opportunities," says Afridi, "had we taken the opportunities the match could have turned out differently."

"Let's not get too carried away, but we're delighted with the win and to get some points on the board," says Collingwood. "There are a few areas to improve on, we were a bit sloppy at the end, but I was pleased with how we took the momentum back in the middle of Pakistan's innings."

Kevin Pietersen gets the Man of the Match award. "The ankle's fine," he says. "It's not an easy wicket but our boys bowled really well on it. We need one more victory and hopefully we can get to a semi-final." On Twenty20 cricket: "The more you play, the better you get. Twenty20 cricket is serious business now."

That's all for today from your commentary team, Sahil Dutta and Liam Brickhill. Andrew Miller's bulletin is up, so do check that out for an incisive and indepth look at today's game. South Africa take on New Zealand in the second game of the day, so stay with Cricinfo for full coverage of what should be a thrilling encounter, with both sides looking to build momentum in the Super Eights stage.

19.3
4
Saeed Ajmal to Pietersen, FOUR, and there's the game! Short ball, Pietersen stayed deep in his crease and flayed it away through the covers to end the match in fitting style
19.2
1lb
Saeed Ajmal to Wright, 1 leg bye, scores level as Wright goes down to slog sweep, misses, and they run a leg bye as the ball squirts square on the off side
19.1
0
Saeed Ajmal to Wright, no run, doosra, and Wright can't get it away! Hit gently into the covers. Two from 5 needed now...

END OF OVER:
19 | 6 Runs | ENG: 146/4 (2 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.68, RRR: 2.00)

  • Kevin Pietersen69 (51b)
  • Luke Wright1 (1b)
  • Mohammad Amir4-0-25-0
  • Saeed Ajmal3-0-14-2
18.6
0
Mohammad Amir to Pietersen, no run, Another bouncer, but Pietersen can't get it away and the match goes in to the final over!
18.5
0
Mohammad Amir to Pietersen, no run, bouncer from Aamer! KP wasn't expecting that, but he managed to duck his head out of the way just in time
18.4
0
Mohammad Amir to Pietersen, no run, another full toss, very wide of off and it's driven straight to the cover fielder, with all the fielders in now. Had he left that, it would definitely have been a wide
  • England begin to gel as a Twenty20 unit

    It's difficult to know quite how good England were in the opening Super Eight game because Pakistan were so poor, but there is no doubt they are a vastly improving Twenty20 team

  • Pietersen praises England power-hitters

    Kevin Pietersen could be leaving this tournament at any moment should his wife go into labour, and in the form he showed against Pakistan it will be a considerable hole to fill if he is absent

  • Pietersen seals England victory

    Kevin Pietersen returned to form with a confident 52-ball 70 not out, as England's powerful new batting line-up capitalised on a spirited display from their bowlers to ease along to a comfortable six-wicket victory

England 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st44MJ LumbC Kieswetter
2nd21KP PietersenC Kieswetter
3rd60PD CollingwoodKP Pietersen
4th15KP PietersenEJG Morgan
5th11KP PietersenLJ Wright

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
AUS22041.525
PAK2112-0.325
BAN2020-1.2
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
NZ22040.428
SL21120.355
ZIM2020-1.595
Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND22041.495
SA21121.125
AFG2020-2.446
Group D
TeamMWLPTNRR
WI22042.78
ENG2011-0.452
IRE2011-3.5
Group E
TeamMWLPTNRR
ENG33060.962
PAK31220.041
NZ3122-0.373
SA3122-0.617
Group F
TeamMWLPTNRR
AUS33062.733
SL3214-0.333
WI3122-1.281
IND3030-1.117