England end India tour with T20 win

Kevin Pietersen smashed 53 off 39 balls as England finally found success on their Indian tour with a six-wicket victory in the lone Twenty20 international in Kolkata on Saturday.

The tourists enhanced their reputation as the reigning world Twenty20 champions by keeping the hosts down to 120-9 before surpassing the modest target with eight balls to spare.

England silenced some 40,000 fans at the Eden Gardens by ending the tour on a high after being blanked 5-0 by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India in the preceding one-day series.

Fast bowler Steven Finn grabbed 3-22, and Tim Bresnan and Ravi Bopara picked up two wickets each, to set up the emphatic win after India elected to take first strike on a slow pitch.

Dropped

Pietersen, who was dropped on one by Suresh Raina, led England's charge with three sixes and four boundaries.

Samit Patel helped Pietersen add 60 for the third wicket after two wickets had fallen by the seventh over with the score at 40.

Graeme Swann, who led England in the absence of injured Twenty20 skipper Stuart Broad, said he was relieved by the win.

``It's been a very tough month for us," said Swann.

``We played some abjectly horrible cricket on the tour, but it came together today. However, one swallow does not make a summer. We need to improve." Pietersen, who was named the man of the match, conceded the dropped catch helped his cause.

Tricky wicket

"It was a tricky wicket," he said. ``It was one of those wickets where you had to take a risk in the first six overs. Luckily I was dropped."

KOLKATA, India, Sunday (AFP) -