Kevin Pietersen’s batting prowess is admired all over the world and it is no secret that the former England skipper is more than capable of dispatching anything outside the park – be it in any format, any country or at any ground.
Pietersen did just that for Melbourne Stars in Australia’s Big Bash League but this time with a pinch of MS Dhoni touch. The Englishman in the penultimate over of the Stars’ innings, fetched the ball from outside the off stump and dispatched it past the ropes.
It was a premeditated shot from Pietersen, who was looking to up the ante in the final few overs, and the result came much to his liking as the ball went for the maximum. The shot was the perfect replica of MS Dhoni’s six-fetching blast and Pietersen did justice to it.
The English star finished with a 46-ball 66, featuring four mammoth sixes and two boundaries, and propelled the Stars to 148 in 20 overs. “Someone told me the England selectors were meeting this morning – I hope they’ve got a screen on,” Pietersen said on player mic during fielding.
Pietersen’s fighting effort went in vain as Adelaide Strikers chased down the target with 45 balls to spare and won the Big Bash League opener by eight wickets. Tim Ludeman stared for the Strikers as he struck fastest fifty in Australia domestic T20 competition.
The wicketkeeper-batsman made a brutal 44-ball 92 and helped his side in ending the game in 13th over of the second innings. Ludeman hit five massive sixes and scored nine boundaries.
