Pietersen leads rearguard action

Feb 4 2009

Kevin Pietersen hit a half-century upon his return to the ranks to hold together a shaky England on the opening day of the Caribbean Test series.

Pietersen, who relinquished the England captaincy last month, was unbeaten on 60 at tea in a score of 132 for four against West Indies at Sabina Park.

But for the 28-year-old things might have been decidedly worse at the start of what new leader Andrew Strauss hopes will be a new dawn, and a launching pad towards this summer's Ashes.

The slow surface, a stark contrast to the last time England toured here in 2004, encouraged the spinners throughout and in turn led to 35 overs being sent down by Sulieman Benn and Chris Gayle before the second interval.

Benn accounted for Paul Collingwood in the afternoon, via a leg-before decision, which the England batsman considered disputing before Pietersen dissuaded him with a quick gesture.

Only 59 runs were mustered in the middle session, in fact, a rate not helped by a shower which accounted for a 22-minute stoppage.

Collingwood, who was out attempting a sweep, earlier survived England's first experience of an umpiring challenge in Test cricket.

West Indies captain Gayle believed he had removed Collingwood 13 minutes into the afternoon session but umpire Rudi Koertzen turned down the confident appeals. Television official Daryl Harper then confirmed the impact was made outside the line of off-stump following Gayle's decision to refer it upstairs.

Off-spinner Gayle came perilously close to claiming the prize scalp of Pietersen in his next over, the 34th of the innings, but a top-edged sweep spiralled into no-man's land between square-leg and long-leg.

Pietersen celebrated his latest 50 for England shortly before the second break with two of his six boundaries coming off one Daren Powell over - the first a textbook straight drive, the second a flash past gully which cued a muted celebration.