LEEDS (England), Aug 23: Kevin Pietersen scored 90 not out and then claimed two wickets to inspire his England team to a 20-run victory over South Africa in their opening One-day International at Headingley on Friday night (also partly reported in Saturday’s edition).

The tourists, replying to England’s 275 for four, could only manage 255 to give Pietersen another win after he was appointed captain this month. He finished with two for 22 from five overs and played a part in the run out of Jacques Kallis.

South Africa started brightly but as soon as rookie spinner Samit Patel bowled Herschelle Gibbs (37) to leave them on 93 for two in the 16th over the match gradually turned England’s way.

Kallis, with 52, and A.B. de Villiers, caught at midwicket for 24 in Pietersen’s first over, failed to build on a promising start. Mark Boucher was then stumped to give Pietersen his second victim.

England fast bowler Steve Harmison claimed figures of two for 43 in 10 overs in his first One-day International since retiring from the format 20 months ago.

Pietersen had earlier combined with Andrew Flintoff (78) in a destructive stand of 158 from 128 balls.

Pietersen, who survived lbw appeals on 19 and 58, batted for 82 balls for his fifth half-century in eight one-day innings against his native South Africa.

Flintoff faced 70 deliveries and joined Pietersen in England’s highest fourth-wicket stand in one-day cricket against the Proteas.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND:

I.R. Bell c de Villiers b Kallis 35

M.J. Prior c de Villiers b Kallis 42

O.A. Shah c Philander b Botha 12

K.P. Pietersen not out 90

A. Flintoff b Steyn 78

L.J. Wright not out 2

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-5, W-6, NB-1) 16

TOTAL (for four wkts, 50 overs) 275

FALL OF WKTS: 1-77, 2-86, 3-113, 4-217.

DID NOT BAT: R.S. Bopara, S.R. Patel, S.C.J. Broad,S.J. Harmison, J.M. Anderson.

BOWLING: Steyn 10-0-67-1 (2w); Ntini 9-0-38-0 (2w); Nel 10-1-53-0; Kallis 5-0-25-2; Botha 7-0-33-0; Philander 9-0-50-0 (1nb, 2w).

SOUTH AFRICA:

H.H. Gibbs b Patel 37

G.C. Smith ct Prior b Harmison 21

J.H. Kallis run out 52

A.B. de Villiers c Bell b Pietersen 24

J.P. Duminy ct Prior b Harmison 18

M.V. Boucher st Prior b Pietersen 16

J. Botha c sub (Bresnan) b Broad 26

V.D. Philander run out 23

A. Nel b Flintoff 10

D.W. Steyn not out 3

M. Ntini b Flintoff 2

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-8, W-10, NB-1) 23

TOTAL (all out, 49.4overs) 255

FALL OF WKTS: 1-50, 2-93, 3-142, 4-149, 5-168, 6-207, 7-219, 8-245, 9-249.

BOWLING: Broad 10-0-61-1 (3w); Anderson 3-0-18-0 (1nb, 3w); Harmison 10-1-43-2 (3w); Flintoff 9.4-1-46-2; Bopara 2-0-11-0; Patel 10-0-42-1; Pietersen 5-0-22-2.

RESULT: England won by 20 runs.

UMPIRES: I.J. Gould (England) and S.J.A. Taufel (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: N.J. Llong (England).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Kevin Pietersen.

SECOND MATCH: Trent Bridge (D/N), Aug 26.

THIRD MATCH: The Oval, Aug 29.

FOURTH MATCH: Lord’s, Aug 31.

FIFTH MATCH: Cardiff (D/N), Sept 3.

—Reuters