England 121 for 4 (Pietersen 53) beat India 120 for 9 (Raina 39, Finn 3-22) by six wickets
England finished the tour in an upbeat fashion after beating India with the bat and ball unanimously. England were first in anticipation and in anxiety as a fitness test was given to Pietersen if his thumb is fit to play in the match. But with him passed fit, England were focused in bowling India in a usual, sluggish pitch of Kolkata. But the first 2 overs brought wickets thanks to the leading pace bowlers that were the stars for England in the ODI series. Robin Uthappa didn't have a good welcome back to international cricket with Bresnan getting out the dangerman with a fine edge to send him on his way. But when Raina was accelerating in the fourth wicket partnership with Manoj Tiwary, things were looking pretty desperate for the England players. The 39 Raina made was turning out to be in vain after being out to Samit Patel and then Dernbach came back with his slow balls that were useful in such a slow pitch but yet again didn't receive a wicket. Bopara's medium pace had got the tail enders reeling and received 2 wicket including the key wicket of the rocket that is Yusuf Pathan. Dhoni tried to claw back what India had with some sixes to get India to a 6 an over target of 121.
Some unexpected wickets from Kohli, Pathan and Raina got some batsmen out but none of them could stop Kevin Pietersen in hitting fiercely to a half century including the classic switch hit that got pummelled for 6 . Some batsmen like Alex Hales and Kieswetter helped with some low scores but gave the confidence and the momentum to carry Pietersen and England home with Bopara finishing off the game with a boundary from Virat Kohli.
England proved undefeated in Twenty20 and prove themselves a very dangerous side for the World Twenty20 next year. With this fine form, England might show their credentials to defend their Twenty20 world title.
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