England win edge-of-the-seat thriller against Windies

Bridgetown, Barbados, Apr 22 (UNI) Kevin Pietersen hit a magnificient hundred as England defeated hosts West Indies in a high-scoring edge-of-the-seat thriller, which was also Brain Lara's last appearance in international cricket.

Highest quality of cricket was displayed as a 300-run target was successfully overhauled on the penultimate ball of the the last Super Eight match, ironically rendered inconsequential as both the team were already out of the hunt.

England win the match with a wicket and a ball to spare after Man of the Match Pietersen and wicketkeeper batsman Paul Nixon made an amazing recovery while West Indian bolwers crumbled under pressure in the death.

England began the chase of 300 in an emphatic fashion even after losing an early wicket. At the charge, was their captain Michael Vaughan, who failed in all the crucial matches throughout the World Cup. Played as if there was no tomorrow, he scored a majestic 79 and added quick 90 runs for second wicket with Ravinder Bopara (26).

England's 100 came in 16th over but Bopara was removed soon by brilliant a throw from Bravo.

However, Vaughan was unperturbed and was kept whiplashing the West Indian bowlers. He reached his half-century in just 33 balls with five hits to the fence and two over it.

Together with KP, he added 53 runs for third wicket before he also fell to an incredible throw from, again, Bravo. Vaughan's 79 came off in just 68 balls and England were looking solid at 152 for three in 27th over when he departed.

However, the wicket triggered a mini-collapse with three English batsmen dismissed in a space of 35 runs.

But KP stood between West Indies and victory as he forged a seventh-wicket partnership with all-rounder Paul Nixon as England made an amazing recovery.

Together they keep a check on the asking rate, never letting it go beyond 10-an-over. KP completed his second hundred of the tournament by hoisting Jerome Taylor for maximum. However, Taylor put West Indies firmly back into the game castling the batsman on the very next ball.

Pietersen's 100 came off in just 91 balls with 10 fours and a solitary six. England needed another 32 runs in 22 balls with three wickets in hands.

Taylor removed Liam Plunkett (2) in the same over as the match seemed slipping out of the English grip. However, Nixon went ballastic plundering 17 runs off next over by Correy Collymore to put snatch victroy form the jaws of defeat.

Dwayne Bravo removed him in the last over to ignite some hopes but the last pair hung on to take England home.

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