Shah keeps England on track
Owais Shah kept England on track for a NatWest Series whitewash over South Africa with a seven-wicket victory at rainy Lord's.
Owais Shah kept England on track for a NatWest Series whitewash over South Africa with a seven-wicket victory at rainy Lord's.
The hosts, already 3-0 up with two to play, overcame early blips to reach the 137 they needed with 14 balls of their 20 overs to spare.
They were indebted to Shah and captain Kevin Pietersen, whose stand of 74 in nine overs resuscitated England from 19 for two.
But after the out-of-sorts Jacques Kallis was plundered for 20 in his solitary over, the momentum was established – and not relinquished, despite Pietersen's departure to a catch in the deep off Johan Botha.
Shah stayed the course to finish with 44 not out, and was immediately backed to make the number three spot his own in England's one-day side.
"I knew he was going to come good, said Pietersen. "He knew I had the confidence in him, and so did the players, and his county stats prove in first-class cricket he's a great player.
"He deserved a go at three. He's played some fantastic shots, and the way he was talking when I was batting with him was a really good sign of things to come."
Shah's performance, which included a six and four fours, was eventually overshadowed by man-of-the-match Andrew Flintoff, who hammered an unbeaten 31 off 12 balls to follow his impressive bowling of three for 21 from his seven overs.
