Opener Pietersen scores 66 as England score 273 vs Pakistan

Fatullah, Feb 18 (PTI) England team management''s decisionto open with Kevin Pietersen clicked well in their finalwarm-up match against Pakistan as the star batsman scored 66as his team posted a challenging target of 274 at the KhanSaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah today.

Apart from Pietersen''s half century, former skipper PaulCollingwood contributed 65 as England were all-out in 49.3overs. Young pacer Junaid Khan who replaced an injured SohailTanvir at the last moment was the pick of the bowlers grabbingthree for 44 in his eight over spell. Wahab Riaz also tookthree wickets for 52.

Although Pietersen didn''t really smash the Pakistanbowlers all over the park but he did play sensibly adding 80runs for the third wicket with Ian Bell (39, 58 balls, 2x4).

Pietersen scored his runs of 78 deliveries hitting threeboundaries and a six in the process.

After Pietersen and Bell fell in quick succession it wasCollingwood and Ravi Bopara (35) who added 82 runs for thefifth wicket just when it looked that Pakistan bowlers will berunning through the England middle-order.

However England had a mini-collapse in the end as theylost their last five wickets for only 12 runs.