India v England in India, 2011-12

England's diffidence and weariness during the 50-over series were replaced by confidence and brio as they lived up to their new status as world No. 1 in Twenty20 cricket: the inaugural rankings had been unveiled earlier in the week by the ICC. With Finn again compelling and Bresnan pepped up for one last push, India's innings was swiftly in tatters; Swann, the temporary captain with Stuart Broad still injured, went about his business with admirable briskness. On a slow pitch - the same one used four days earlier for the one-day international - victory was no formality. But Pietersen, who had pleaded with Andy Flower to let him play after taking painkillers to cope with a fractured thumb, rose gloriously to the occasion, with 53 from 39 balls, including a switch-hit six off Yusuf Pathan. Shortly after the end of his stand of 60 with Patel, Pietersen was unlucky to be given out to a ball that pitched outside leg as he played a reverse sweep. His evident incredulity earned him a reprimand from referee Roshan Mahanama, but for once England avoided panic.