Returning hero KP’ssix-hitsalvo
KEVIN Pietersen is back. The box-office batsman plundered his 40th T20 half-century on his return to English cricket to help Surrey to a tenrun victory over Essex Eagles at the Oval.
Pietersen smashed five sixes in his 52 in what was his first game for Surrey in more than two years but could not field after straining his calf during his innings.
Despite a confident start, Essex struggled for momentum chasing Surrey’s 150-9. Openers Varun Chopra (27) and Dan Lawrence (24) departed in the seventh and ninth overs as Essex fell just short at 140-7.
“I absolutely loved it,” said Pietersen. “It’s been a date I’ve looked forward to since I signed the contract and to get the victory for the boys is magnificent.
“Manipulating the field, picking length – that’s the sort of stuff that really excites me. The sixes are a by-product of the art of batting and I love batting.”
On Tuesday, Gloucestershire successfully defended 138-9 to defeat Kent Spitfires by eight runs at The Spitfire Ground.
Ian Cockbain’s 40 was the high point in an otherwise slow innings from the visitors, but 3-28 from Tom Smith ripped apart the Kent middle-order to leave them in trouble at 71-5 – a position from which they could not recover.
All-rounder Benny Howell, left, said: “I thought we were a little under par at halfway, but that shows how well we bowled and fielded. The wicket suited us in the end and we bowled quite smart, and the catches helped.”
Adam Hose’s 59 helped Somerset to a 21-run victory over Middlesex on Sunday while Colin Ingram’s 114 eased Glamorgan to a five-wicket win at Essex.
The Glamorgan-Somerset and Gloucestershire-Sussex matches were abandoned, but on Friday Michael Carberry set Hampshire on their way to a 29-run win over Middlesex, while Kent chased down Surrey’s 205-5 with ease thanks to Joe Denly’s 116 not out.