Pietersen powers England to victory

Utilising a blend of Twenty20 domestic specialists and the nucleus of their one-day international side, England proved too strong for Zimbabwe just 24 hours after their shock victory over Australia.

Having set a challenging total of 188 for nine - which included Kevin Pietersen's first half-century of his Twenty20 international career - Zimbabwe slumped to 138 for seven in reply despite a 74-run opening stand in only eight overs.

If Pietersen provided the international sparkle with his innings of 79 off 37 balls, including seven fours and four sixes, it was two less celebrated members of England's line-up who smothered Zimbabwe's positive start.

Hampshire all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas, who has just established himself in England's one-day side and was included in this squad only because of an injury to Ryan Sidebottom, continued his progress by grabbing three for 18.

But the most remarkable performance was delivered by leg-spinner Chris Schofield, who claimed two for 15 on his England return just two years after being forced to make his living as a painter and decorator after being released by Lancashire.

Their efforts ensured an impressive all-round display for England in their opening match of the tournament and providing they do not lose heavily to Australia tomorrow, should ensure their progress into the second stage of the competition.

Like Australia the night before, who also won the toss and decided to bat, England struggled during the early overs of fielding restrictions and lost opener Darren Maddy in the third over when he was caught at mid-off for 14.

Sussex's Luke Wright, brought into the side for his explosive strokeplay, followed next ball when he attempted to drive a wide delivery from seamer Elton Chigumbura and edged behind.

The hat-trick ball was blocked by Pietersen, but three overs later lost Matt Prior, caught at long on just two balls after hitting his first six to help him score 14 off 20 balls.

Pietersen found a willing partner in Collingwood and the pair ensured England reached a commanding total with a thrilling 100-run stand off only 53 balls.

Pietersen signalled his intentions by hitting Tatenda Taibu for six over over long on in the sixth over and then really got going by hitting left-arm spinner Keith Dabengwa for 22 in one over, including a six and two fours off successive balls.

He brought up his half-century off only 27 balls, but missed out on becoming the first England batsman to hit a Twenty20 hundred when he was caught on the boundary attempting another reverse pull. Pietersen was followed four balls later by Collingwood, run out for 36 off 27 balls pushing for a second run, leaving England on a promising 153 for five with five overs remaining.

Instead of building on that promising foundation, however, they suffered a middle order collapse by losing four wickets in the next two overs.

Andrew Flintoff, who passed a fitness test on his troublesome left ankle to play, hit one six in his 13 before being bowled by seamer Chamunorwa Chibabha and Chigumbura cleaned up with two more wickets to dismiss Owais Shah and Mascarenhas to claim four for 31.

England's total looked beyond Zimbabwe until they began their reply and openers Vusimusi Sibanda and Brendon Taylor, man-of-the-match against Australia, combined in a stunning opening stand.

James Anderson was withdrawn from the attack after his first over went for 16 while Stuart Broad's three-over opening spell cost 27. It took the combination of Mascarenhas and Schofield to apply the brakes with five wickets in five overs.

Having charged to 57 without loss during the first six overs of fielding restrictions, Zimbabwe added only 33 runs in the next eight overs and lost the five wickets, from which they never recovered.

Today's clash with a wounded Australia will be much tougher.

A victory will ensure England progress to the Super Eights. If they lose they could still go through, providing they do not lose by an even bigger amount than they triumphed by yesterday.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND

D L Maddy c Matsikenyeri b Chigumbura 14

M J Prior c Chibhabha b Mupariwa 20

L J Wright c Taylor b Chigumbura 0

K P Pietersen c Masakadza b Utseya 79

P D Collingwood run out 37

A Flintoff b Chibhabha 13

O A Shah c Chibhabha b Chigumbura 11

A D Mascarenhas c Matsikenyeri b Chigumbura 0

C P Schofield not out 9

S C J Broad run out 1

J M Anderson not out 0

Extras (lb1 w3) 4

Total (for nine wkts, 20 overs) 188

Fall: 1-20, 2-20, 3-51, 4-151, 5-154, 6-172, 7-178, 8-178, 9-186.

Bowling: Chigumbura 4-0-31-4; Brent 3-0-34-0; Mupariwa 2-0-22-1; Utseya 4-0-27-1; Taibu 2-0-20-0; Dabengwa 2-0-29-0; Chibhabha 3-0-24-1.

ZIMBABWE

V Sibanda c Maddy b Mascarenhas 29

B R M Taylor b Mascarenhas 47

T Taibu b Mascarenhas 2

C J Chibhabha c & b Schofield 5

S Matsikenyeri c Flintoff b Schofield 2

E Chigumbura c Wright b Collingwood 8

H Masakadza c Wright b Broad 25

P Utseya not out 15

K M Dabengwa not out 0

Extras (lb4 w1) 5

Total (for seven wkts, 20 overs) 138

Fall: 1-74, 2-81, 3-84, 4-87, 5-89, 6-104, 7-137.

Bowling: Broad 4-0-29-1; Anderson 3-0-31-0; Flintoff 3- 0-18-0; Mascarenhas 4-0-18-3; Schofield 4-0-15-2; Collingwood 2-0-23-1.

England won by 50 runs