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Pietersen’s
dazzling innings hands a consolation win for
England |
October 28, 2006 (Link to
Scorecard)
 West
Indies’ winning momentum has been halted by
Kevin Pietersen’s heroic 90 which handed England
a consolation victory at Ahmedabad. England
successfully chased a huge total of 273 to win
their last group match by three wickets with 9
deliveries to spare. It was a match that had no
importance in the context of the tournament as
England were already eliminated out of the
tournament more than a week back.
Brian Lara had won the toss to bat first today
and his side had a couple of changes with Fidel
Edwards and Corey Collymore coming in for Ian
Bradshaw and Dwayne Smith. There was no place
for the wayward Stephen Harmison who made way
for medium pacer Jon Lewis in the England team.
It was Jon Lewis who provided a good start for
his team by getting Shiv Chanderpaul plumb in
front of the stumps in the 8th over. Dwayne
Bravo was for the second time promoted to no.3.
Chris Gayle and Bravo batted on an on to figure
in a massive partnership. Gayle’s innings was a
lot disciplined this time around, there was the
intent of getting a big one which he did scoring
his 14th ODI hundred. Just when Gayle was
getting ready for a carnage after getting to his
hundred, a run out resulted with Flintoff at mid
off firing at the striker’s end to dismiss Gayle
in the 43rd over. Gayle scored 101 from 128
balls which had 10 fours and a six which had
come off Jamie Dalrymple.
Dwayne Bravo could also get to score a century,
his maiden one in ODIs. He finished unbeaten on
112 from 124 balls with 14 fours and a six.
Ramnaresh Sarwan had provided the fireworks in
the end with a 19-ball 29. Windies closed their
innings at 272 for 4 in their allotted 50 overs.
Jon Lewis with 10-1-35-1 and off spinner Jamie
Dalrymple with 10-0-42-0 bowled well for
England. Andrew Flintoff took the opportunity to
get back to bowling after a long lay off due to
injury. He did not bowl flat out but bowled just
fine enough going for 27 in 5 overs.
England’s answer to the 272 for 4 was a blazing
one with Andrew Strauss punching the ball in the
gap with lots of power. Ian Bell at the other
end was as solid as a rock. It was a solid
opening stand of 82 before Chris Gayle had got
Strauss cutting onto his stumps to an arm
delivery. Strauss had raced away to 50 from 47
balls with 8 fours before getting out. The
England Captain had come in at no.3 once again
and he played a good innings before getting too
aggressive in coming down the track and lifting
Gayle straight to Taylor at the long on
boundary. Flintoff made 25 from 27 with four
boundaries. In the same over in which Flintoff
was gone, the 21st over, Gayle dismissed Paul
Collingwood for a first ball duck. Collingwood
playing for the off break was foxed by one that
didn’t turn to get an edge to Bravo in the slip.
England were now 127 for 3 but they progressed
well through the next partnership between Ian
Bell and Kevin Pietersen.
The platform was well set by Bell and Pietersen
as England got into a good position to complete
the chase but a needless run out of Bell in the
32nd over got Windies back in the game. Bell was
run out for exactly 50 from 79 balls by a direct
throw from Lara. England were pegged back once
again when they had lost Michael Yardy and Jamie
Dalrymple, both to Marlon Samuels. Yardy, the
left hander was actually caught on the bounce by
Bravo at long off which was something that went
unnoticed by the Umpires. A mixture of great
shots and some lucky edges saw England
comfortably home towards the end. Pietersen
remained not out on 90 from just 86 balls which
had 9 fours and a six that had come in the 47th
over when he had lofted Bravo’s slower delivery
between covers and long off.
Kevin Pietersen might have won the match for his
side but the Man of the Match had interestingly
gone in favour of Chris Gayle who had taken
three wickets conceding just 31 in his 10 overs
following his hundred with the bat.
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