T20 World Cup: Kevin Pietersen shines as England qualify for Super Eights

England (185-5) bt Pakistan (137-7) by 48 runs.After the stumbles and massive fall against Holland, England walked tall at the Oval on Sunday night after beating Pakistan to remain in the World Twenty20. They followed up defeat against a bunch of club cricketers with a fairly straightforward victory over the team with more Twenty20 international wins than any other country. With Kevin Pietersen back in the team, England were stronger and more calculating with the bat, making a defendable total against a powerful Pakistan side.

England had to be bold in selection. They stuck by Adil Rashid’s leg spin and after endlessly talking up the benefits of the IPL they actually picked a guy with experience of playing in it, Dimi Mascarenhas. It added up to a more varied bowling attack and one that defused the power in the Pakistan line-up.