Centurian KP wages lone battle as Eng all out for 247

St Peter's, Antigua, Apr 8 (UNI) A disciplined 104 by Kevin Pietersen enabled England score 247 in 49.5 overs against Australia in their crucial Super Eight league match of the World Cup at Sir Vivian Richards ground here today.

England failed to capitalise on the 140-run third wicket partnership between Ian Bell (77) and Pietersen as they lost next seven wickets for just 83 runs in 20.2 overs.

After the third wicket stand, England were reeling at 179 for five but Pietersen and Ravi Bopara (21) added 51-run for the sixth wicket to see England cross the 200-mark, as seven other batsmen failed to cross the double digit.

The pace trio of Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait and Glenn McGrath claimed three wickets each for Australia.

Kevin Pietersen was one batsman Australia feared above all others and Ricky Ponting had made his intention clear that his bowlers would target the batsman's ribs. But Pietersen simply appeared to pick up from where he had left off at Melbourne this January.

Playing in his 48th ODI, Pietersen reached his fourth 100 off 117 balls with the help of one six and six boundaries.

After England had lost two quick wickets at 24, Kevin Pietersen steadied the innings with a rapid 140-run stand with opener Ian Bell.

The duo improvised creatively, first hitting orthodox shots against opening bowlers Nathan Bracken and Shaun Tait, and then frustrating change bowlers Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds and Brag Hogg with some unorthodox strokeplay.

With Prince Harry and his (unidentified) girlfriend looking on from the stands, Bell set the tone with some fluent driving off front and back foot, till Pietersen joined in the fun and games.

The Pietermaritzburg-born 27-year old first lofted part-time spinner Michael Clarke for a massive, scooped six over midwicket, flipped Symonds back over wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist's head for boundaries and thumped Tait straight and through covers.

But he reserved some special attention for McGrath, who had broken his rib back in Australia, and the World Cup's record setting bowler was going at eight per over at the 30-over mark, despite the wicket of Bell (77, 90 balls, 7 fours) who somehow contrived to slice a full-toss straight into the hands of Mike Hussey in the covers.

Bell also went after the bowling and the pair looked set for a big score when Bell's indiscreet shot led to his dismissal. The Opener who was well set lost his conc entration as he tried to slash McGrath only to be caught at extra cover by Hussey. He faced 98 balls and hit nine boundaries in his knock of 77.

Pietersen, also had a charmed life. He was first dropped by Ponting at mid-on off a full-length dive when the batsman was yet to hit his stride, but that was a very difficult chance. However it was Matthew Hayden's who let go an easy catch in the 29th over off Tait with the batsman on 63 on a total of 161/2.

But after Bell's dismissal, Australian regained the control of the proceedings but Pietersen kept defying them. He was seventh batsmen to get out when the score was 240. He fell to Bracken. His 104 came off 122 balls (1x6,6x4).

And the rest of the batsmen fell by the way side.

Vaughan's juggling with the top order, dropping Ed Joyce for Andrew Strauss and bringing Bell along to open had mixed success.

Both the England skipper and Strauss could contribute little to the cause and fell to the fiery Tait.

First up was the luckless Vaughan, beaten for sheer pace and only bringing his bat down enough to knock a Tait delivery back on to the woodwork. The very first ball he had faced from the lanky, slingy 24-year-old from South Australia nearly reared back into Vaughan's throat.

It was to set the tone for Tait's first spell of two for 17 from four overs, almost every delivery going down in excess of 90 miles an hour.

Strauss perished in almost identical fashion, his bat still on the downswing when the ball clipped the inside edge on its way to the stumps.

Despite having looked good at nets, it continued Strauss' poor run with the bat since the Australia tour that saw him total just 193 runs from 10 outings to the crease.

Earlier, Vaughan said after wining the toss and surprisingly opting to bat that he hoped to put pressure on Australia in the form of a big enough score. Both sides made one change, Strauss for Joyce on England's side and as expected, Brad Hodge for injured all-rounder Shane Watson by the Aussies.

UNI