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KP ton not enough to deny India victory

26/11/2008

A century from Kevin Pietersen was not enough to prevent India easing to a fifth consecutive victory in the fifth one-day international with 38 balls to spare.

Pietersen hit 111 from 128 balls, including ten fours and one six, to push England to a competitive total of 270-4 from their 50 overs.

In reply half-centuries from four of the host side's top order pushed them to victory in a six-wicket win, meaning the prospect of a 7-0 series whitewash is increasingly real with just two matches remaining.

After being put in to bat England's openers started positively in Cuttack.

But recalled Alastair Cook stumbled on 11 and Ravi Bopara just failed to survive the opening ten overs, making 23.

Pietersen and a tentative Paul Collingwood took some time to get the innings restarted.

The former skipper hit just four boundaries in his 64-ball innings and when his dismissal was followed soon afterwards by Andrew Flintoff for a duck England were looking shaky at 158-4.

An unbeaten 112-run partnership between Pietersen and Owais Shah (60 not out) pushed England up to 270-4 with Zaheer Khan's 2-60 the pick of the bowling.

In reply Virender Sehwag (91) and Sachin Tendulkar (50) put on 136 for the first wicket, building a promising platform for victory which reduced the run-rate to below five an over.

The loss of three wickets in less than five overs gave England's bowlers an opportunity to exert pressure on fresh batsmen Mahendra Dhoni (50) and Suresh Raina (53)

But the relatively low run-rate meant the pair could bat themselves in before accelerating to victory.