T20 ICC WORLD TWENTY20 WEST INDIES 2010 - Super Eight: ENG Vs SA

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KP Steals Show As England Beat SA

Bridgetown: Kevin Pietersen laid the platform for a commanding 39-run victory over his native South Africa as England took a giant stride towards the World Twenty20 semifinals here on Saturday. Pietersen's high-class 53 was at the heart of England's 168 for seven against the land of his birth at the Kensington Oval.

       The star batsman was named man of-the-match for the second time in as many fixtures after his unbeaten 73 in a six-wicket Super Eights win over defending champions Pakistan on Thursday. Peitersen, whose innings helped has struggled with both form and fitness at international level for over a year, with a right Achilles injury ruling him out of the majority of the 2009 Ashes series win over Australia.

         "I've had a really rough last 12-14 months soit's nice to be back again," Pietersen said. England Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood was delighted by a dominant display that delighted the massed ranks of England fans in the crowd.

         "There are a lot of England fans in here and I wanted us to put on a good performance and we've done that," he said. South Africa captain  Graeme Smith said his side had been well beaten.

           "Credit to England, they were far better than us today, especially in the first 10 overs. "In general it was a very disappointing da for us and we have to make sure we bounce back."

            South Africa suffered a dramatic top-order collapse against England spinners Graeme Swann (three wickets for 24 runs) and Michael Yardy (two for 26). The Proteas lost four wickets for 19 runs as 34 for one was transormed into 53 for five.

         Left-arm quick Ryan Side bottom (three for 23) ended the match with an over to spare by bowling Morne Morkel as South Africa were dismissed for 129. Victory left England with two wins from two second round matches.