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Abdul Razzaq produced a blistering innings of 46 not out from 18 balls as Pakistan squared the two-match Twenty20 series in dramatic style in Dubai. Defending a target of 148 following a timely return to form for Kevin Pietersen, England’s bowlers looked to have the game in the bag as Pakistan slumped to 78 for 5 after 13 overs, following a two-wicket debut over from Ajmal Shahzad, and a brilliant spell of 4-1-14-3 from Graeme Swann.

Kevin Pietersen produced arguably his most composed innings since his return from Achilles surgery, while Eoin Morgan continued the improvisatory form that has made him an instant veteran of England’s limited-overs squads, as Pakistan were overwhelmed by an unbeaten 112-run partnership in the first Twenty20 in Dubai.

The stand was England’s highest for any wicket in Twenty20s, and fittingly it was Morgan who sealed the match with a six – a monstrous hoist over deep backward square – as England rattled to victory with nine balls to spare. It was an impressive way to bounce back after the disappointment of losing to the England Lions in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, and the victory was on the cards from the moment that Pakistan were restricted to 129 for 8 despite winning the toss and batting first.

Not even the loss of an average of 30 overs per day, nor the smokescreen of an ECB-led witch-hunt into the failings of the UDRS system, seem likely to save England from a crushing series-squaring defeat in the fourth and final Test at Johannesburg, after another day in which South Africa’s superior technique with bat and ball overcame a series of interruptions for thunderstorms and bad light. When play was suspended with 20 overs of the third day still to be bowled, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood were clinging on desperately, having watched as three of their colleagues were blown away by a trio of pumped-up pace bowlers.

Match facts
January 14-18, 2009
Start time 10.30 am (0830 GMT)

Big Picture

With its towering stands at either end of the ground, and the forbidding Perspex tunnel leading from the pavilion to the playing area, there are few more daunting venues for a touring team than the Wanderers. Factor in the prospect of a seething green surface and an opposition ready to bring a “do-or-die” attitude into the contest, and the stage is set for a battle of rare intensity. For all the narrowness of their escapes at Centurion and Cape Town, if England prevail in the grand finale of a memorable campaign, no-one will question their right to return home with the spoils.

Kevin Pietersen has backed the actions of Jonathan Trott in standing his ground during their run-out mix-up at Centurion, which ended a partnership of 145 that was taking England towards a comfortable draw in the opening Test against South Africa.

Pietersen was on 81 when, shortly after tea, he pushed the ball into the off side and sprinted for a single, but didn’t realise that Friedel de Wet, the bowler, could intercept the ball in his follow through. Pietersen continued to charge up the pitch which left Trott with a decision whether to sacrifice himself or preserve his wicket.

Andrew Flintoff may have turned down a central contract but insists that England remain his top priority, ahead of several domestic Twenty20 deals.

Flintoff retired from Tests after the successful Ashes campaign and had rejected an ECB incremental contract soon after. There was speculation that he would become a Twenty20 freelancer, playing full-time in various domestic leagues around the world. He is already the IPL’s most expensive player – along with Kevin Pietersen – after signing an annual US$1.55m deal with the Chennai Super Kings earlier this year.

It isn’t only the crowds that Kevin Pietersen is having to battle in South Africa, but also his own form after a four-month injury lay-off following Achilles surgery. His innings during the one-day series have been unconvincing, but given the career he has already had, expectations were always going to be high as soon as he returned to the England side.

Kevin Pietersen will resist the temptation to rush back into action after he joined up with his England team-mates in Johannesburg. The tourists were skittled for 89 by South Africa A on Tuesday evening, and have a number of injury concerns in the squad, but Pietersen doesn’t expect a hurried return for the Twenty20 internationals.

Pietersen had a vigorous net session at the Wanderers after the England squad flew in from Bloemfontein following the embarrassing reversal against South Africa’s second string. The first Twenty20 takes place in Johannesburg on Friday followed by the second at Centurion on Sunday, however Pietersen is still targeting the 50-over warm-up against South Africa A next Tuesday as his first England match since the second Ashes Test in July.

Kevin Pietersen,the England batsman, has said that his forced break from international cricket due to an Achilles injury had refreshed him at a time when he was beginning to fall “out of love with the game”.

“The big thing is the mental rest,” Pietersen told the Times. “This year has been one of the toughest of my career, with the captaincy debacle in January plus the injury. My Achilles won’t hamper me any more and I definitely feel fresh mentally. I’ll be starting off really enjoying myself — and this year I haven’t particularly enjoyed playing cricket because I was in pain and because of what happened in January. It’s been a tough thing for me.”

Kevin Pietersen has admitted that he was losing his love for cricket before he was ruled out of action with an Achilles injury. Pietersen missed the final three Ashes Tests and is still recovering ahead of the tour of South Africa, but he believes the enforced break was what he needed to freshen up after a challenging year.

In January he lost the captaincy after the fallout with Peter Moores less than six months after taking over the role and after that didn’t look the same player. He was rarely happy on the tour of West Indies and his form at the start of the 2009 season was unconvincing.