England off to a winning start

Updated 16.46 Thu Sep 13 2007

Keywords: Paul Collingwood, Zimbabwe, England, Australia, Kevin Pietersen, cricket, World ICC twenty20, sport

Kevin Pietersen smashed 79 runs as England's cricketers kicked off their ICC World Twenty20 campaign with a 50-run win over Zimbabwe in Cape Town.

Having won the toss and decided to bat, England managed to post a score of 188-9 in their alloted 20 overs at Newlands before restricting Zimbabwe to 138-7.

"It was a good win, I thought Zimbabwe played well. It was not a perfect peformance but we came out and got the job done and got a good victory" - Paul Collingwood

Limited-overs England skipper Paul Collingwood, who shared a 100-run fourth-wicket stand with Pietersen, was pleased with his men's victory but will be looking for them to step up a gear against Australia.

Collingwood said: "It was a good win, I thought Zimbabwe played well. It was not a perfect peformance but we came out and got the job done and got a good victory.

"Schofield and Mascarenhas turned the game in the middle of the innings after they had got off to a great start."

England now face Australia on Friday knowing they could eliminate them from the tournament.