Kevin Pietersen hit his eighth one-day hundred while Alastair Cook missed a third consecutive century as England crushed Pakistan by nine wickets in the third day-night match on Saturday. The 31-year-old Pietersen notched an unbeaten 98-ball 111 while opening partner Cook hit 80 to help their team overhaul a modest 223-run target set by Pakistan with 12.4 overs to spare at Dubai Stadium.
The victory gave England an unassailable 3-0 win in the series, with the fourth and final match to come here on Tuesday. Pietersen, whose last hundred came against India at Cuttack in November 2008, hit his 10th boundary to bring up the win. Pietersen, who also hit two sixes, crossed the 4,000 one-day run mark when he reached 57, becoming the seventh England batsman to reach the milestone.
He pushed paceman Aizaz Cheema towards square-leg for two to reach his hundred off 93 balls, his first in 36 innings. Cook, who hit a career-best 137 and then 102 in the first two matches, was shaping well for his third century but fell when he was caught behind off spinner Saeed Ajmal after a fluent 98-ball knock, hitting six boundaries and a six. Pakistan’s bowlers looked helpless against some impressive batting by Cook and Pietersen who improved on the previous best opening stand of 147 against Pakistan, set by Michael Atherton and Robin Smith in Karachi in the 1996 World Cup. Cook fell with 53 still needed before Eoin Morgan (24 not out) helped Pietersen see off the target.
Cook said keeping Pakistan to 222 was fantastic. “It’s great to win the series,” said Cook, who took over in May last year. “Keeping Pakistan to 222 on this pitch was fantastic and our bowlers were outstanding. That total was below par.” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq was disappointed with his team’s efforts.
Pietersen, Cook script Pakistan’s disgrace
