England outclass South Africa by 39 runs

BRIDGETOWN - Kevin Pietersen struck a belligerent half-century as England roared to a 39-run victory over South Africa in their second Group Eights match of the World Twenty20 at the Kensington Oval here Saturday.

Pietersen, who will be flying home in the next 24 hours for the birth of his son, notched up his second successive half century (53 off 33 balls) in the tournament as he and Craig Kieswetter (41 from 42 balls) put on a 94-run stand to take England to 168 for seven in 20 overs. The Proteas’ chase never took the flight and they lost wickets at regular intervals to be wiped out for 129 with an over to spare.

Interestingly, the chief architects of the South Africa loss - Pietersen and Kieswetter - along with Michael Lumb were born and educated in South Africa and also have learned the nuances of the game there.

Both the teams had won their first match in the Super Eights stage and were locked in the battle to strengthen their semifinal place. And it is England who took the honours this day.

Pietersen, who led the England charge with an unbeaten 52-ball 73 against Pakistan Thursday, continued in the same vein as he smashed eight fours and a six during his breezy innings.

Kieswetter, a former under-19 wicket-keeper for South Africa, hit three fours and two sixes and was lucky to survive early in his innings when he was caught off a Morne Morkel delivery at an individual score of seven but it turned out to be a no ball.

Pietersen and Kieswetter treated the famed South African pace attack with disdain and scored at a brisk pace on a bouncy Kensington Oval surface. The Proteas soon ran out of options with quicks Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel’s combined eight overs costing 90 runs. In fact, it was the spinners who proved to be crucial.

Pietersen’s dismissal in the 12th over and Kieswetter’s two overs later slowed down the scoring but they ensured England ended up with a respectable total.

England spinners Graeme Swann (3-24) and Michael Yardy (2-31) took five wickets among them and were well assisted by Ryan Sidebottom (3-23) in stifling their opponents. South Africa’s top five batsmen were back in the dug-out for 53 runs in 10.5 overs.

Jean Paul Duminy stood out with his 25-ball 29 but was devoid of partners and fell in the 17th over and with him the South African hopes.

Off-spinner Johan Botha was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa, taking two for 15 in four overs.

– Indo-Asian News Service