By IANS,
Bridgetown (Barbados) : Kevin Pietersen found his touch with an unbeaten 70 as England produced a clinical performance to overpower Pakistan by six wickets in the first Super Eights clash of the World Twenty20 here Thursday.
Set to chase 148 runs, England helped by some poor fielding by Pakistan eased past the target comfortably with three balls to spare.
Pietersen, who had been going through a form slump, guided England’s innings smashing 70 off 52 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
Pakistan’s poor fielding form came back to haunt them as a series of lapses gave England the upper hand. England would thank Saeed Ajmal for dropping three catches inside five overs. He dropped Craig Kieswetter twice at mid-on and Michael Lumb once at mid-off.
By the time Ajmal made amends and broke the partnership, England’s new opening combination of Kieswetter (25) and Lumb (25) had put 44 runs on the board from 5.4 overs. Lumb was the aggressor and struck three fours and one six in his 13-ball knock that set the tone for the English chase.
There was no end to Pakistan’s misery on the field as they continued to drop catches.
Pietersen’s drive went out of Abdul Razzaq’s hands in his followthrough. He had another small escape when Mohammad Aamer at long off leapt with one hand but could not complete the catch.
Pietersen took advantage of the lifelines and struck skipper Shahid Afridi over his head for a second six to bring up a 37-ball half-century.
Paul Collingwood played patiently at the other end for his 15-ball 16 but raised 60-runs with Pietersen. He was dismissed by Afridi caught by Umar on the long-off boundary.
Eoin Morgan, who had been England’s best batsmen so far, left adding just five runs, but Pietersen saw the team through.
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings was built around Salman Butt (34) and Umar Akmal (30). Most of the Pakistani batsmen got starts save Afridi, who ran himself out first ball.
England seamers Ryan Sidebottom (2-28), Stuart Broad (2-25) bowled well on a lively wicket that assisted pace and bounce. Spinners Michael Yardy (2-19) and Graeme Swann (1-28) later joined the party.