/ 9 March 2010

Pietersen flops in Bangladesh

Ace England batsman Kevin Pietersen failed to find form ahead of a two-Test series against Bangladesh, scoring just 20 in a drawn warm-up match on Tuesday.

Pietersen, who contributed only 41 in three one-day internationals against the hosts recently, also flopped in the first innings of the match, making two before falling to left-arm spinner Mehrab Hossain.

He faced 23 balls in the second innings before being bowled by part-time spinner Mohammad Ashraful.

England, needing 284 to win, finished at 185-5 in their second innings, with skipper Alastair Cook (42) gaining valuable batting practice before the Test series starts in Chittagong on Friday.

The final Test begins in Dhaka on March 20.

The hosts earlier declared their second innings closed at 362-5, with Shuvagoto Chowdhury top-scoring with an unbeaten 91.

Ashraful could not find a place in the Test squad announced in Dhaka on Tuesday after failing in the practice match, scoring one and 30. He is also without a half-century in his last 12 Test innings. — AFP