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KIMBERLEY, Jan 28: South African-born Kevin Pietersen struck 97 off 84 balls to set England on the way to a six-wicket victory over South Africa A in the limited-overs tour match on Thursday.
Chasing 252 in 50 overs, England slipped to 57 for three before Pietersen lifted them to victory with an aggressive innings in his first match back on South African soil.
Pietersen and Ian Bell (87 not out) defied the South African A attack for just short of two hours as they added 169 for the fourth wicket. South Africa A, who won the toss, built their total of 251 for eight around opener Morne van Wyk's 104 and Boeta Dippenaar (66). Kabir Ali was the best of the England bowlers, taking four for 40 in his 10 overs.
SCOREBOARD
SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS:
A M. van Wyk c Wharf b Ali 104
L. Bosman c Trescothick b Gough 12
H. Dippenaar c Bell b Batty 66
J. Duminy c Pietersen b Batty 11
A. Bacher b Ali 3
J. Ontong b Collingwood 8
J. Morkel b Ali 21
J. Van der Wath b Ali 5
A. Thomas not out 3
G. Kruger not out 0
Extras: (b-1 lb-6 w-10 nb-1) 18
Total (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 251
Did not bat: E. Mbhalati
Fall of wkts: 1-48 2-158 3-187 4-191 5-204 6-232 7-246 8-247.
Bowling: Gough 10-2-38-1 (w-1), Anderson 9-0-65-0 (w-6), Ali 10-1-40-4, Wharf 6-0-40-0 (nb-1, w-2) Batty 10-0-42-2, Collingwood 5-0-19-1 (w-1)
England XI
M. Trescothick b Thomas 40
V. Solanki b Kruger 0
K. Ali b van der Wath 6
I. Bell not out 87
K. Pietersen c Dippenaar b Bacher 97
P. Collingwood not out 9
Extras: (lb-4, w-9) 13
Total: (for four wickets, 42.2 overs) 252
Did not bat: G.Batty, G.Jones, A.Wharf, D.Gough, J.Anderson.
Fall of wkts: 1-12 2-38 3-57 4-226
Bowling: Kruger 6-0-39-1 (w-4), Mbhalati 6-0-38-0, Van der Wath 8-1-43-1, Thomas 6.2-1-30-1 (w-1), Morkel 7-0-38-0 (w-1), Bacher 8-0-43-1 (w-1), Ontong 1-0-17-0. -Agencies
