Pietersen repaired the England innings together with Ian Bell raising 80 runs partnership for the third wicket and just when Pakistan looked liking conceding the early advantage, Abdur Rehman struck, having Pietersen stumped by Kamran Akmal for a well-compiled 78-ball 66, studded with three fours and one six.
Published: Feb 18, 2011, 05:54 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 18, 2011, 05:54 PM (IST)
Kevin Pietersen plays a shot during his knock 66 against Pakistan at Fatullah
Fatullah: Feb 18, 2011
By CricketCountry Staff
England rode on half-centuries from Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood to put up a score of 273 off its allotted 50 overs in their final World Cup warm-up game against Pakistan at the Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on Friday.
Pietersen, who missed out in the opening practice game against Canada at the top of the order, applied himself nicely to seize the initiative from the Pakistan opening bowlers who had put them in a spot of bother at 37 for 2 in the tenth over.
Speedster Shoaib Akhtar gave Pakistan early inspiration, cleaning up England captain Andrew Strauss in the second over before rookie Junaid Khan snapped up Jonathan Trott.
Pietersen repaired the England innings together with Ian Bell raising a 80-run partnership for the third wicket and just when Pakistan looked liking conceding the early advantage, Abdur Rehman struck, having Pietersen stumped by Kamran Akmal for a well-compiled 78-ball 66, studded with three fours and one six.
England lost a bit of momentum when Bell fell to spinner Saeed Ajmal four overs later. But Paul Collingwood and Ravi Bopara strung another significant 82-run fifth wicket stand to ensure England put up a formidable score on the board.
Collingwood made 65 coming off 73 balls and packed with three hits to the fence while Bopara chipped in with a handy 35. Wicketkeeper Matt Prior threw his bat around before Junaid and Wahab Riaz scythed through the England lower-order bowling them out for 273 in 49. 4 overs.
Junaid finished with figures of 3 for 44 while Wahab snared 3 for 53.
Brief Scores: England 273 7 in 49.4 overs (Kevin Pietersen 66, Paul Collingwood 65, Ravi Bopara 35, Matt Prior 24, Junaid Khan 3 for 44, Wahab Riaz 3 for 53, Saeed Ajmal 2 for 48) vs Pakistan
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