After More Than Two Years Kevin Pietersen Had Surpassed The Three-Figure Level:
on this day in 2007, former England batsman Kevin Pietersen had scored his fourth ODI century. During the 35th ICC Cricket World Cup match against Australia in Antigua.
Pietersen, who scored 558 runs at an average of 139.50 in his first 11 ODIs and a strike rate of 100.72 including three centuries and two half-centuries, entered the three-figure mark in this format after more than two years.
He scored 1,251 runs at an average of 44.67 and a strike rate of 88.84 including 12 half-centuries in the 36 ODIs which Pietersen played in between his third and fourth ODI century.
The right-hand batsman holding an ODI average of 56.53 despite not scoring a century for more than two years speaks highly of him becoming the No. 1 ODI batsman at World Cup time.
Pietersen Stitched A 140-Run Stand For The Third Wicket To Lay A Solid Foundation:
After England’s then-captain Michael Vaughan won the toss and decided to play, Pietersen found himself in the center of the seventh over when Australia’s fast bowler Shaun Tait discarded Vaughan (5) and Andrew Strauss (7) cheaply.
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England opening batsman Ian Bell (77) and Pietersen stitched the third wicket with a 140-run partnership to establish a stable base for the remaining batsmen. Losing wickets at frequent intervals, however, saw the English be discarded in 49.5 overs, on 247.
Pietersen, then 26, had his hand in before displaying first signs of hostility to Michael Clarke against Australia’s part-time spinner.
Having produced a half-century 49-ball in the 23rd over, Pietersen crossed the three-figure mark after 25 overs coming from the other end amid wickets.
Pietersen’s 104 (122) finished in a losing cause with the aid of six fours and a six, concluded in a losing cause as Australia secured the chase from captain Ricky Ponting (86) and Clarke (55 * not out) on the basis of individual half-centuries in the 48th over.
