Pietersen gives England some pride

Kevin Pietersen has given England some pride and signed them off in style after he made 90 not out in their three wicket win over the West Indies in Ahmedabad.

Brian Lara won the toss and elected to bat. The West Indies through Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul got off to a steady start before Jon Lewis who came in for Steve Harmison got one to straighten up on Chanderpaul and he was on his way for 13.

This brought Dwayne Bravo to the crease who was again promoted up the order.

Bravo and Gayle put together a wonderful partnership with both players scoring centuries before a mix-up between the pair saw Gayle run out for 101 with the score at 209-2 in the 43rd over .

The West Indies ended their innings on 272-4, with Dwayne Bravo finishing on 112 not out.

The pick of the England bowlers was Jon Lewis who took 1-35 from 10 overs and backed up those many supporters who thought he should have been in the team since the start of the tournament.

What was especially pleasing for England was the return to the bowling crease of Andrew Flintoff. Flintoff looked comfortable and completed five overs in two spells for the cost of 27 runs.

In reply, Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell got England off to a lighting start and they raced through to 82 runs in the 12th over before Chris Gayle got one through Strauss’ gate and he was dismissed for a well made 50 off 47 balls.

Flintoff joined Bell and they started to form a handy partership but just as they were looking settled Gayle tossed a delivery up to Flintoff who slogged it down Jerome Taylor’s throat at long-off.

Paul Collingwood was the next to go a couple of balls later being dismissed by Gayle’s arm-ball and the wheels were starting to come off for England.

Who was to be the man of the moment Kevin Pietersen walked to the crease and together with Ian Bell they looked to repair the England innings.

They were going well until Bell was needlessly run out for 50 and England were 162-4 in the 32rd over.

Pietersen took it upon himself to try and lead England to victory and together with the lower order they succeded.

Sajid Mahmood especially providing able support when he joined Pietersen with 41 runs still being required off 32 balls.

Chris Gayle was the pick of the West Indies bowlers taking 3-31 off 10 overs, but what really cost them in this match was the disapponting opening bowling pair of Fidel Edwards who went for 0-56 off seven overs and Jerome Taylor who went for 0-64 off 8.3 overs.

The West Indies will now play South Africa in the second semi-final on November 3rd, while the winner of the India v Australia match will play New Zealand in the other semi-final on November 1st.

West Indies 272-4
Dwayne Bravo 114*, Chris Gayle 101, Ramnaresh Sarwan 29
Sajid Mahmood 2-44, Jon Lewis 1-35

England won by 3 wickets

England 276-7
Kevin Pietersen 90*, Andrew Strauss 50, Ian Bell 50
Chris Gayle 3-31, Marlon Samuels 2-45