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Pietersen begins reign as ODI captain with tense win

22/08/2008

Skipper Kevin Pietersen inspired England to a 20-run win over South Africa in the first one-day international at Headingley.

Pietersen hammered 90 off 82 balls, which included a 158-run partnership with Andrew Flintoff (75), as England posted 275-4.

The England captain then made the right tactical changes as the Proteas were bowled out for 255, having been 149-4 at one stage.

England lead the series 1-0 going into the second ODI on Tuesday at Trent Bridge.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, England made a solid start but once again failed to set an aggressive tone to their innings.

Ian Bell made 35 off 69 balls, hitting no boundaries, before he edged a delivery from Kallis to slip. Matt Prior, promoted up the order, went soon after in similar fashion for 42 off the bowling of Kallis.

England found themselves 113-3 when the in-form Owais Shah’s (12) attempted hook was caught by Vernon Philander at deep square leg.

That brought Flintoff to the crease, with the all-rounder and skipper Pietersen putting on a stand of 158.

Pietersen typically accelerated the run rate, bringing up his 19th ODI half-century with a boundary.

Four overs later, Flintoff reached his 17th ODI 50 with a boundary off Andre Nel. But the all-rounder was unable to survive until the end after being bowled by a deadly yorker by Dale Steyn.

Pietersen stayed until the end, thanks to seven boundaries and a six as England posted an impressive target.

In contrast to England’s pedestrian openers, the Proteas made an explosive start with 45 runs in the first seven overs.

England stemmed the tide with a wicket in the seventh over when skipper Graeme Smith nicked a delivery from Harmison to wicket-keeper Prior.

Despite the combination of Flintoff and Harmison, the experienced duo of Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs, who has 20 ODI centuries, were making a run a ball.

Pietersen’s decision to bring on spinner Samit Patel reaped rewards when he bowled out
Gibbs for 37.

The England skipper continued to have the Midas touch, bringing himself onto bowl he dismissed AB De Villiers for 24 to leave the tourists on 142-3.

Pietersen continued to be involved in the thick of the action and was involved in the next wicket when he whipped off the bails to run out Kallis for 52.

The South-African born batsman then removed dangerman Mark Boucher (16) when he was stumped by Prior, the first time Pietersen has taken two wickets in an ODI.

Harmison returned to the attack and sent JP Duminy back to the pavilion for 18 after a low catch by Prior.

Despite being in control, South Africa crumbled in the last six overs. The collapse began when Johan Botha spooned a delivery from Broad which was caught by substitute Tim Bresnan.

Stuart Broad then displayed his fielding skills with the run out of Philander for 23 to leave the Proteas on 243-8.

In the final over, Flintoff dismissed tailenders Nel and Makhaya Ntini to give England a morale-boosting win.