Kevin Pietersen top scored again for England Legends in a close finish against India Legends!

It was Kevin Pietersen show for England at Raipur in the Road Safety World Series fixture against India. Pietersen was at his vintage best as he smashed the ball from word go as the batsmen around him struggled to get going.

Earlier India Legends captain Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and elect to bowl with the team making a change to bring in S Badrinath in to their line up. England Legends went in with the same line up which clinched their first match against Bangladesh Legends.

Pietersen smashed the fastest half century of this tournament in 18 balls – as he was severe against each and every bowler that came his way. The famous rivalry of Yuvraj Singh and Kevin Pietersen took a new twist when KP welcomed the Indian all-rounder with 2 Sixes off the first 2 deliveries bowled by him. Yuvraj Singh made a decent comeback conceding just 9 runs in his next 10 deliveries.

Post innings Kevin Pietersen said he told him self not to get out in the bowling of Yuvraj Singh. ” I kept telling myself don’t get out to pie chucker – don’t get out to pie chucker. Not again!” KP told in post innings interview.

Kevin Pietersen smashed 75 runs in 37 balls with the help of 6 fours and 5 sixes before being caught behind when he mistimed a hook shot off the short pitched delivery bowled by Irfan Pathan. Irfan pathan finished with match figures of 4-0-28-2. England scored 139-3 in 14 overs at the departure of captain Pietersen.

England scampered to 188-7 in 20 overs

– First 10 overs: 110 runs – 1 wicket!

– Last 10 overs: 78 runs – 6 wickets!

Chasing a huge target of 189 to win – Team India faltered early with Sehwag caught in the deep for 6 in the bowling of Matthew Hoggard. Left arm spinner Monty Panesar dented Indian hopes with the wickets of Mohammad Kaif, Sachin Tendulkar & Yuvraj Singh and left the team reeling at 56-5 in 8.2 overs.

Pathan brothers stabilized the situation with a 43 runs stand before Yusuf Pathan departed for 17 (15) mistiming a slog off James Tredwell. India lost their 7th wicket in the form of Naman Ojha (12) leaving the team to get 70 runs in 26 balls to win. Enter the twist!

The twist to the tale came in the form of MS Gony! Gony smacked 4 sixes and 1 four in his unbeaten knock of 35 in 16 balls who partnered with Irfan Pathan who was unbeaten on 61 runs in 34 balls (30 ball half century). The duo brought the match as close to 9 to win in 3 balls but Ryan Sidebottom held his nerve conceding just 2 runs off the last 3 balls to deliver his team a 6 run win against India Legends.

Playing XIs

India Legends: Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar (c), Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Yusuf Pathan, S Badrinath, Naman Ojha (wk), Irfan Pathan, Manpreet Gony, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel

England Legends: Phil Mustard (wk), Kevin Pietersen (c), Darren Maddy, Chris Schofield, Gavin Hamilton, Kabir Ali, James Tredwell, Chris Tremlett, Ryan Jay Sidebottom, Monty Panesar, Matthew Hoggard

Match Summary

England Legends 188-7 in 20 overs

Kevin Pietersen 75 (37)- 6 Fours & 5 Sixes

Darren Maddy 29 (27) – 3 Fours

Irfan Pathan 4-0-28-2

Yusuf Pathan 3-0-28-3

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India Legends 182-7 in 20 overs

Irfan Pathan 61*(34) – 4 Fours & 5 Sixes

Manpreet Gony 35*(16) – 1 Four & 4 Sixes

Monty Panesar 4-1-15-3

James Tredwell 4-0-44-2