ENGLAND took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-match one-day international series with Pakistan following an emphatic nine-wicket victory in Dubai. Kevin Pietersen, who averaged 11 in the Test series, hit two sixes in 111 not out, his first ODI hundred since 2008. Pietersen shared 170 with skipper Alastair Cook (80), England’s highest opening partnership against Pakistan. Shahid Afridi (51) and Umar Akmal (50) put on 79 as Pakistan mustered 222 but England won with 76 balls remaining. As quickly as England’s confidence began to evaporate in the 3-0 Test whitewash earlier this month, their complete dominance of the one-day matches has reduced Pakistan to a team bereft of answers. It also continues a timely return to form for the limited overs team following their 5-0 whitewash in India late last year. Cook, combining touch with controlled power he was once thought not to possess, looked certain to become the first England batsman to score three successive ODI hundreds but got a thin edge behind off Saaed Ajmal. The renaissance of Pietersen, who had scored only 107 runs in eight international innings on the tour, is a significant bonus, and after successive half century stands he took his fledgling partnership with Cook at the top of the innings to new heights.For once Cook lost the toss but his star fast bowler Steven Finn quickly put England in command.
