England gave a death blow to India by 6 wickets

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Kevin Pietersen smashed 53 off 39 balls as England had finally found success on the Indian tour with a six-wicket victory in the lone Twenty20 international in Kolkata on Saturday.

The tourists improved their reputation as the reigning world Twenty20 champions by keeping the hosts down to 120-9 before they could exceed the modest target with eight balls to spare. England stillness some 40,000 fans at the Eden Gardens by ending the tour on a high after being blanked 5-0 by Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s India in the preceding one-day series.

Fast bowler Steven Finn grabbed 3-22, and Tim Bresnan and Ravi Bopara picked up two wickets each, to set up the categorical win after India elected to take first strike on a slow pitch. Pietersen, who was dropped on one by Suresh Raina, ledEngland’s charge with three sixes and four boundaries.

Samit Patel helped Pietersen add 60 for the third wicket after two wickets had fallen by the seventh over with the score at 40. Earlier, Raina top-scored in India’s innings with 39 off 29 balls with two sixes and four boundaries, while Dhoni made 21 before being run out off the final delivery.

The ninth-wicket partnership between Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin (17 not out) increased the total by taking 25 runs from the last two overs. The tourists have made a flying start by removing both openers, Ajinkya Rahane and Robin Uthappa, in the first eight deliveries to be made out by wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter in caught behinds.

It soon became 26-3 as Alex Hales took a dazzling running catch on the deep mid-wicket fence to remove Virat Kohli for 15 off Bresnan. Manoj Tiwary settled in with Raina to helpIndiareach 65-3 in 10 overs, before he was bowled by Patel for 15.

Finn smacked twice in two balls, having Raina caught at point before bowling Ravindra Jadeja first ball to diminish India to 74-6 in 12 overs. Bopara claimed two wickets in one over as are bowled Yusuf Pathan and Praveen Kumar in the space of three deliveries.

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