England batsman Darren Maddy (right) plays a stroke as Zimbabwe's wicketkeeper, Brendon Taylor, looks on during their ICC Twenty20 World Cup match at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday. - APCAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP):
KEVIN PIETERSEN'S 79 off 37 balls helped England defeat Zimbabwe by 50 runs yesterday at the Twenty20 World Cup.
In Durban, India's start to the tournament was spoiled by rain as they were forced to accept a single point as rain washed out their encounter with Scotland.
England captain Paul Collingwood added 37 runs as his team's 188 for nine proved too much for Zimbabwe to overcome.
England decided to bat first at the Newlands Stadium and Zimbabwe's bowlers started well again, as they did in their surprise defeat of Australia on Wednesday. Darren Maddy and Luke Wright both fell victim to Elton Chigumbura, leaving England at 20 for two in the third over.
But Pietersen and Collingwood shared a 100-run stand in 54 balls. Pietersen dominated the partnership, at one time sweeping Keith Dabengwa for a six and two fours off successive balls.
He was eventually caught on the boundary having hit seven fours and four sixes.
Vusi Sibanda and Brendan Taylor gave Zimbabwe a good start, with an opening partnership of 74. But after Dimitri Mascarenhas got rid of Sibanda for 29, the Zimbabwe chase stalled. Mascarenhas finished with 3-18 off his four overs, while Chris Schofield took 2-14 in his four overs, as Zimbabwe fell 50 runs short on 138-7.
