Pietersen, Flintoff help England build healthy total

ENGLAND recovered from a pedestrian start to yesterday’s opening match of the NatWest Series with Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen propelling them to a competitive total against South Africa.

Having decided to bat first despite cloudy conditions at Headingley, England were aiming to continue the aggressive cricket which had been so successful under new captain Pietersen during the final Test at The Brit Oval.

But instead they were deprived of boundaries and looked on course for a modest target until Pietersen teamed up with Flintoff in a 158-run stand off only 129 balls and guided England to a competitive total of 275 for four.