HARARE, 2 December 2004 — A record stand between Kevin Pietersen and Geraint Jones led England to an emphatic 161-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second One-Day International yesterday.
Pietersen and Jones, who came together with the touring side struggling on 121 for five, added 120 to guide England to a total of 263 before Zimbabwe were dismissed for just 102 in 36 overs.
Zimbabwe’s second-biggest One-Day International defeat in terms of runs left England 2-0 up in the four-match series.
Pietersen, playing his second limited-overs international, stroked 77 not out off 76 balls including four fours and three sixes, while Jones clubbed 66 off 46 deliveries in an England record sixth-wicket partnership.
Zimbabwe fast bowlers Tinashe Panyangara and Christopher Mpofu used early life in the pitch to keep the England top order under pressure, with Panyangara removing Ian Bell and captain Michael Vaughan for five and 11 respectively.
Zimbabwe’s three off-spinners, former rebel player Gavin Ewing, Prosper Utseya and Stuart Matsikenyeri, each took wickets as England stumbled. Pietersen and Jones, however, hammered booming drives and meaty pulls to all parts of the ground for the next 13 overs as both passed fifty for the first time in One-Day Internationals. Darren Gough and James Anderson wasted England’s new ball and Matsikenyeri, who was dropped on one by Paul Collingwood at backward point off Gough, and Brendan Taylor took advantage to share a 40-run first-wicket partnership.
Anderson ended the stand when Matsikenyeri, on 17, miscued a pull to Vaughan at mid-on.
The introduction of medium pacer Alex Wharf in the ninth over stemmed the flow of runs. The disciplined Wharf had Taylor caught behind by wicketkeeper Jones for 13 in his second over and two balls later Mark Vermeulen slapped a waist-high catch to Pietersen in the covers.
