Jamaica Gleaner
Published: Monday | January 26, 2009
Home : Sport
Pietersen, Shah maul St Kitts/Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

Kevin Pietersen and Owais Shah flogged St Kitts and Nevis' bowling for hundreds as England's cricketers enjoyed a productive opening day of their three-day tour match yesterday.

Pietersen shrugged off the recent turmoil that led to his ousting as captain and smashed 103, while Shah stroked 125 not out as England closed at 424 for eight after they were sent to bat by the home side at Warner Park.

In contrast, the tour opener for the new skipper Andrew Strauss could not have started more terribly. He lost the toss and then his wicket very cheaply. The 31-year-old left-hander, who was appointed captain for the tour when Pietersen was stripped earlier this month, departed without scoring.

A rising delivery from medium pacer Calvin Williams nicked the shoulder of Strauss's bat and lobbed to third slip where Junie Mitchum stepped back and took the catch.

Fruitful partnership

Ian Bell joined vice-captain Alastair Cook for a fruitful 96-run partnership for the second wicket before Bell gave a return catch to Akito Willett, the young leg-spinner.

Willett, who completed an opening day five-wicket haul, jumped and clutched the chance when Bell attempted a firm drive over his head.

It became 103 for three when Willett breached Cook's defence and bowled the left-hander for a fluent 52, which included seven boundaries.

From a lunch-time position of 118 for three, the tourists enjoyed a run spree in the early afternoon session and Pietersen sped to a hundred in tandem with Shah, as they added 154 for the fourth wicket.

Pietersen achieved his first 50 in just 35 minutes and completed his knock of 103 off just 107 balls, laced with 13 fours and three sixes.

Miscued ball

England also lost Andrew Flintoff (11) before tea, when he miscued a big on-side heave and was caught at mid-wicket. And there is an injury-concern over Flintoff, the big all-rounder withdrawing from the game after experiencing discomfort in his left side.

The home side picked up another three wickets in the last session while England added another 122 runs to their tea-time position of 302 for five.

Shah stroked 12 boundaries in his unbeaten hundred but lost Prior (16) and Adil Rashid (6) to Willett and Steve Harmison to Mitchum for an aggressive half century.

Harmison helped invigorate the lower order with a shot-filled 58 with 13 fours, 89.6 per cent of his runs coming in boundaries.

Willett, the 22-year-old son of former Test spinner Elquemedo Willett, completed a haul of five for 116 off 24 overs with five maidens.

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