England ease into Super Eights
Pietersen shared a century partnership with Joyce
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Saturday, 24, Mar 2007 09:33
A knock of 75 from opener Ed Joyce helped England defeat Kenya by seven wickets to seal a place in the second round of the World Cup.
Rain delayed the start of the game, reducing it to 43 overs per side. Having won the toss and elected to bat Kenya scored a total of 177 all out from their allotted overs which England chased down with relative ease.
Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo was the only player to trouble the England bowlers, scoring 76 from 97 balls, although he was responsible for some horrendous mix-ups which led to run-outs during his innings.
James Anderson made some early inroads into the Kenyan top order, bowling Ravindu Shah for four, and having Maurice Ouma caught by Paul Collingwood at mid-off for 14.
England picked up wickets at regular intervals as the Kenyan batsmen failed to capitalise on good starts.
Collins Obuya looked to be in good touch after scoring ten from 13 balls but he was run out after Tikolo refused a single to backward point.
England dropped chances and missed further run-out opportunities but largely did well to restrict their opponents to 177.
In reply England suffered an early setback when Michael Vaughan (1) cut the ball straight to Obuya with the score on 12.
Ian Bell hit two fours before he soon fell to Thomas Odoyo for 16 to reduce England to 52-2.
But a century stand between Joyce and Kevin Pietersen for the third wicket helped England reach their target with ten overs to spare.
Joyce scored nine fours and one six in his 75 before Tikolo bowled him. Kevin Pietersen completed a mature innings, playing within himself for his 56 off 72 balls to get the team past the winning post with the help of Collingwood at the end.