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England bow out with welcome win England bow out with welcome win
(10 minutes later)
Kevin Pietersen smashed an unbeaten 90 as England headed home from the Champions Trophy with a consolation three-wicket win over West Indies.Kevin Pietersen smashed an unbeaten 90 as England headed home from the Champions Trophy with a consolation three-wicket win over West Indies.
He guided England to 276-7 with nine balls to spare in Ahmedabad.He guided England to 276-7 with nine balls to spare in Ahmedabad.
Chris Gayle had starred with bat and ball for the West Indies, hitting 101 and taking 3-31, but still ended up on the losing side. Chris Gayle shone with bat and ball for West Indies, scoring 101 and taking 3-31, and Dwayne Bravo hit 112 not out.
Dwayne Bravo also registered his first one-day international century with an unbeaten 112 as West Indies hit 272-4. But it was not enough as Pietersen saw England home and there was more good news as Andrew Flintoff sent down five overs in his first bowl since June.
And there was a positive sight for England fans when they saw Andrew Flintoff bowl five overs - his first action with the ball since ankle surgery in June. West Indies won the toss with a place in the semi-finals already secure and opted to bat first against an England side playing only for pride.
West Indies won the toss in a match in which they knew they were already through to the semi-finals of the tournament and England were playing only for pride. Brian Lara chose to bat first and it appeared to pay off as they totalled 272-4, with Gayle putting on 174 for the second wicket with Bravo after opener Shiv Chanderpaul had been dismissed by Jon Lewis for 13.
Gayle put on 174 for the second wicket with Bravo after opener Shiv Chanderpaul had been dismissed for 13. Lewis was preferred to Steve Harmison, who was officially "rested" after being out of sorts with the ball in England's previous game, and bowled 10 tidy overs for figures of 1-35.
Jon Lewis took over from Steve Harmison, who was officially "rested" after being out of sorts with the ball during the tournament so far. But England had to wait a long time for their next success.
Lewis made the breakthrough dismissing Chanderpaul and bowled 10 tidy overs for figures of 1-35.
Flintoff bowled five overs for 27 runs in his return with the ballFlintoff bowled five overs for 27 runs in his return with the ball
Unusually, Bravo was the more aggressive of the pair with Gayle happy to play a more subdued role but it was still effective as he reached a century in 127 balls seemingly without having to break into a sweat. Flintoff brought himself on to bowl in the 11th over and his first three-over spell was encouraging as he reached speeds of up to 87mph.
He was run out by Flintoff without having a chance to really let rip but Bravo followed him to three figures soon after, reaching his hundred off 117 balls with 12 fours and a six. He later returned for two more overs but could not manage a wicket, despite getting both hands to a stinging return chance offered by Bravo.
Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell missed chances to catch Gayle and late on Michael Yardy failed to hang on to an easy chance to dismiss Ramnaresh Sarwan. There was also an uncharacteristic missed stumping by keeper Chris Read. England's fielding in general was far from flawless with Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell putting down Gayle and Michael Yardy failing to hold onto a skier from Ramnaresh Sarwan in the closing stages of the innings.
England captain Flintoff brought himself on to bowl in the 11th over and his first three-over spell was encouraging, reaching speeds of up to 87mph, as he conceded 16 runs. There was also an uncharacteristic missed stumping from keeper Chris Read.
He returned later for two more overs and although he stemmed the run-rate, he could not get a wicket, despite being offered a stinging return catch by Bravo. The partnership between Bravo and Gayle was the foundation for the West Indies total, with Bravo the more aggressive at the outset.
Following Gayle's departure, Bravo and Sarwan added 50 to the toal before Sarwan was caught at long-on off Mahmood, who also claimed the notable scalp of Brian Lara for three. Despite that, it was Gayle who reached three figures first off 127 balls, seemingly without having to break into a sweat.
England were out of the traps quickly in reply, especially Andrew Strauss, who smacked a 46-ball fifty before losing his concentration and was bowled by Gayle for 51. He was run out by Flintoff shortly afterwards without having a chance to really let rip, but Bravo continued on to reach his hundred off 117 balls with an leg-side boundary off Jimmy Anderson.
Flintoff had initially looked happy knocking the ball around for singles and twos but once he increased his aggression with the bat, he succumbed in customary style at holing out in the deep, this time for 25. Bravo and Sarwan added 50 to the total before Sarwan was caught at long-on off Sajid Mahmood, who also claimed the notable scalp of Brian Lara for three.
England work-horse Paul Collingwood's stay at the crease lasted all of one ball as he edged to Bravo as Gayle took two wickets in one over to leave England on 127-3. Facing a tough target, England were out of the traps quickly in reply, especially Strauss, who smacked a 46-ball fifty before losing his concentration and being bowled by Gayle for 51.
And Bell, after completing his seventh ODI fifty, was run out immediately afterwards from a great piece of fielding by Lara, who showed no ill-effects of his bad back. Flintoff, batting at three, initially looked happy knocking the ball around for singles and twos but then attempted to raise the tempo and succumbed by holing out in the deep off Gayle for 25.
Michael Yardy's place in the one-day team is probably under threat after less than convincing performances in India and his 10 would not have enamoured him to the selectors ahead of the World Cup. England work-horse Paul Collingwood's stay at the crease lasted all of one ball as he edged Gayle to Bravo at slip to leave England on 127-3.
But the Sussex player looked as though he was at the wrong end of a dubious decision as Bravo claimed a catch but television replays showed the ball had bounced first. And Bell, after completing his seventh ODI fifty, was run out immediately afterwards by a great piece of fielding by Lara, who swooped on the ball at mid-wicket and three down the stumps without any sign of his bad back.
And with the run-rate rising rapidly, Jamie Dalrymple succumbed to the pressure and was bowled by Marlon Samuels for eight and Read was out for four, dismissed by a slower Bravo delivery. Michael Yardy's place in the one-day team may be under threat after less than convincing performances with the bat in India but he was unlucky this time as TV replays suggested the catch claimed in the deep by Bravo had been taken on the bounce.
So it was left to the man with an appetite for the big occasion, Pietersen, who together with Sajid Mahmood's 14 off 12 balls, saw England home. With the run-rate rising rapidly, Jamie Dalrymple succumbed to the pressure and was bowled by Marlon Samuels for eight and Chris Read followed for four, dismissed by a slower Bravo delivery.
Pietersen left the fireworks to the end and then cashed in scoring the bulk of the last 44 runs needed in 3.5 overs with a huge six over long-off and some spectacular fours. It was left to the man with an appetite for the big occasion, Pietersen, to try and see England home and he did so with able assistance from Mahmood 14, who weighed in with 14 off 12 balls.
Pietersen struck a huge six over long-off as they added 44 in 3.5 overs to lift England's spirits ahead of the Ashes tour to Australia.