The New Nation - Internet Edition

BBC Online

Kevin Pietersen and Dimitri Mascarenhas starred as England beat Zimbabwe by 50 runs in their World Twenty20 opener. Pietersen blasted four sixes in his 77 off 35 balls as England totalled 188-9.

Vusi Sibanda (29) and Brendan Taylor (47) helped Zimbabwe, who stunned Australia by five wickets on Wednesday, ease to 74-0 before Mascarenhas struck.

He took 3-18 to spark a collapse, while Chris Schofield marked his return after seven years with 2-15, and an England win on Friday will knock Australia out

It was a reality check for the Zimbabweans, who were cock-a-hoop on Wednesday after outclassing the Aussies in a stunning five-wicket triumph.

They were once again enthusiastic in the field and on top early on when Elton Chigumbura (4-31) saw Darren Maddy mis-time a booming drive to cover and Luke Wright edge his first ball behind trying to flay it away.

When Mat Prior (20) was caught trying to hit Tawanda Mupariwa over wide long-on for a second six, England were looking for some inspiration.

Pietersen showed he was the man to provide it by geting after Chigumbura in an over costing 17 runs and launching Prosper Utseya over the wide long-on fence.

Skipper Collingwood, who won the toss, joined in the fun by crashing Gary Brent over mid-wicket for another maxiumum before Pietersen came up with the real fireworks.

Three successive left-handed pulls and slog-sweeps off Keith Dabengwa disappeared in a flash and he followed those with another maximum over mid-wicket to make it 22 off the over.

When Collingwood lofted Justice Chibhabha over mid-wicket for six it looked grim for the underdogs but Pietersen was snaffled trying another left-handed pull and a good throw from the deep point boundary ran out the skipper.

The scoring slowed inevitably and Andrew Flintoff, passed fit after struggling with his left ankle against India, was twice dropped in the covers and slogged a six over wide long-on before being bowled by Chibhabha.