Pietersen shines as Notts win tour opener

Johannesburg - New-boy Kevin Pietersen, the 20-year-old signing from KwaZulu-Natal, put together an allround performance as Nottinghamshire got off on a winning foot on their pre-season warm up tour to South Africa recoding a two wicket win over Easterns at the Wanderers on Thursday 29 March.

Easterns batting first put together a competitive total of 203 for 7 with Paul Franks 2-31 and Pietersen 2-29 the pick of the Notts bowling while David Millns, David Lucas and Richard Logan picked up a wicket each.

In response, Notts reached the target from the first ball of the last over when Franks hit a square drive for four. But this came only after Usman Afzaal and new-boys Kevin Pietersen and Chris Hewison had made significant contributions.

The game was the first of six, 50-over one-day fixtures against Easterns, Gauteng, Northerns and neighbouring county Leicestershire, who are also in South Africa as part of their preparations for the 2001 season.

The players will also take on the Gauteng team in a three-day match at the Wanderers Test ground starting on March 31.

Skipper Jason Gallian, who is recovering from a minor knee operation, has gone with the squad to train and have nets but he is not expected to take part in any of the matches.

In his absence, Darren Bicknell takes over as captain - both on the trip and at the start of the season until Gallian is fit.

The only squad members to miss the tour are former England batsman John Morris, who is also currently injured, and will remain in England to see a consultant, and overseas star Greg Blewett who is not due to join the squad until after they return next month.

Score Summary: Easterns 203 for 7, Franks 2-31, Pietersen 2-29
Notts 206 for 8, Afzaal 39, Pietersen 45, Hewison 34, Franks 38*

THE FULL SQUAD IS: Usman Afzaal, Darren Bicknell (Captain), Gareth Clough, Paul Franks, Jason Gallian, Andrew Harris, Chris Hewison, Paul Johnson, Richard Logan, David Lucas, Nadeem Malik, David Millns, Mick Newell, Wayne Noon, Kevin Pietersen, Stephen Randall, Chris Read, Greg Smith, Richard Stemp, Guy Welton.