Pietersen flops again in pre-Test warm-up

ENGLAND drew their pre-Test warm-up against Bangladesh A but another failure for Kevin Pietersen meant they left with the same major problem they arrived with three days ago.

Pietersen's lack of form is fast becoming the story of the tour but, after compiling just 49 runs in six innings before today, he managed just 20 more before being bowled on the sweep by Mohammad Ashraful.

England, whose second innings ended on 185 for five in nominal pursuit of 284, had earlier accelerated the game by offering the hosts nine overs of pitiful declaration bowling which were taken for an astonishing 189.

That decision must have been, at least in part, designed to hand Pietersen some much needed time in the middle – but instead Cook (43 retired) made most use.

Michael Carberry's prospects of a Test debut on Friday must hang in the balance after he looked in good touch before falling for an inconclusive 25.

Carberry launched the chase in brisk fashion, smashing Dollar out of the attack with figures of 3-0-29-0. But, after dominating an opening stand of 57, he fell to the spin of Ashraful to bring the under-pressure Pietersen in.

Having succumbed for five in the first innings, Carberry's failure to register a sizeable score may have ended the debate over England's batting line-up, with Jonathan Trott now favourite to open the innings with Cook.

Pietersen's vulnerability to left-arm spin has been much talked about in recent days and he edgily squirted Mehrab Hossain's first ball into the off-side.

He appeared to find his feet thereafter, but it was not to last.

After 22 minutes and 23 balls in the middle he missed a sweep off Ashraful and was bowled, again denying him some much-needed batting time.