Pietersen inspires England to one day victory

CRICKET: LEEDS, England, Aug 23: Kevin Pietersen scored 90 not out and then claimed two wickets to inspire his England team to a 20-run victory over South Africa in their opening one-day international at Headingley on Friday. The tourists, replying to England’s 275 for four, could only manage 255 to give Pietersen another win after he was appointed captain this month.

He finished with two for 22 from five overs and played a part in the run out of Jacques Kallis. South Africa started brightly but as soon as rookie spinner Samit Patel bowled Herschelle Gibbs (37) to leave them on 93 for two in the 16th over the match gradually turned England’s way.

Kallis, with 52, and AB de Villiers, caught at midwicket for 24 in Pietersen’s first over, failed to build on a promising start. Mark Boucher was then stumped to give Pietersen his second victim. “The team were brilliant,” Pietersen told Sky Sports television. “There is no point resting on our laurels though. “It is a long series, still four more games to play. We always start well and end up messing it up a bit so I think Nottingham (on Tuesday) is a huge fixture for us.” Earlier, Pietersen combined with Andrew Flintoff (78) in a destructive stand of 158 from 128 balls.

Pietersen, who survived lbw appeals on 19 and 58, batted for 82 balls for his fifth half-century in eight one-day innings against his native South Africa.

Flintoff faced 70 deliveries and joined Pietersen in England’s highest fourth-wicket stand in one-day cricket against the Proteas.

The home side made up for a sluggish start to their innings by scoring 94 runs from the last 10 overs, as South Africa struggled to contain England’s belated aggression.