Kevin Pietersen has been a T20 product for some time now and the quality he brings to the table can often be the difference between winning and losing for a team.
Pietersen’s recent stats, however, reveal a boom or bust run of form in which he has either played a match-winning knock or is leaving the crease early.
A look at his last 10 T20 innings – for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL and now the Quetta Gladiators in PSL 2017 – reveal there have been plenty of ups and downs.
73 off 46 vs Melbourne Renegades
A massive contribution from Kevin Pietersen – who came at first down, hit the first ball for six, played some exquisite shots all around the park – against the Renegades took Melbourne Stars to a 46-run win. He hit 7 fours and 3 sixes in his innings, taking his team to 200-7, a total which never looked like it would be chased down.
32 off 29 vs Adelaide Strikers
While Pietersen’s stay at the crease would have led to a comfortable win for the Stars, it was not meant to be. He was run-out trying to complete a double, thanks to Ish Sodhi’s great presence of mind to sprint towards midwicket and throw back to the bowler’s end where Brad Hodge collected and removed the bails. Stars though still won by 2 wickets, chasing 153.
44* off 42 vs Perth Scorchers
After a fantastic bowling performance by the Melbourne Stars bowlers to restrict the Scorchers to 134 for 7, the batsmen needed to do their job right. KP steadied the chase and along with Marcus Stoinis took Stars to a 7-wicket win. Although there were a few nervy moments, they were not enough to ruffle KP’s feathers or put pressure on the Stars.
Golden duck vs Brisbane Heat
A rather forgetful game for his team and KP himself. Rob Quiney and Pietersen became Mark Steketee’s victims, both dismissed for golden ducks. KP was trapped in front, and David Hussey’s decision to bat first after winning the toss, backfired. Heat won the game by 7 wickets and 11 balls to spare.
39 off 36 vs Sydney Sixers
After being placed at 128 for 1 at the 15-over mark, while setting up the target and with KP and Luke Wright at the crease, the Stars lost their way and ended up with 156 for 8. KP’s contribution saw only two boundaries from him and he was caught by Kyle Abbott off the bowling of Ben Dwarshuis. Sixers held their nerves in the end to win by 3 wickets.
5 off 10 vs Perth Scorchers
It could have been termed ‘The Mitchell Johnson game’ after his stunning bowling figures of 3 for 3 rocked the Melbourne Stars’ innings completely. Pietersen too was one of his victims, trying to flick the ball, but holding out at midwicket. Eventually the Scorchers made their way to the finals with a 7-wicket win.
3 off 7 balls vs Lahore Qalandars
While Quetta Gladiators might have won by 8 runs in a close-fought contest in their first game of PSL 2017 against Lahore Qalandars, KP started off poorly. He scored just 3 off 7 balls before advancing down the wicket to Mohammad Irfan, swinging hard but missing the ball and getting bowled.
Golden duck vs Karachi Kings
A terrific spell of fast swing bowling from Sohail Khan produced three wickets in four balls for the Kings. Pietersen was one of them, edging an out-swinging delivery to Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps. It was Rilee Rossouw and Sarfraz Ahmed who put on a 130-run stand then to chase down 160 with 7 wickets in hand.
Golden duck vs Islamabad United
Another day, another golden duck. Pietersen was out to a peach of a delivery from Mohammad Sami though, an inswinging yorker that hit his toes. It was his second successive golden duck. Sam Billings meanwhile won Islamabad United the game with a match-winning 78 off 50.
88* against Lahore Qalandars
At KP’s best, no target is unattainable; the Lahore Qalandars found out the hard way. After posting 200 on the board, they might have thought half the job was done. It should have been that way.
But the sleeping giant inside KP, on the back of two successive golden ducks, had other plans. He smashed it around until the very end with the kind of performance that keeps KP’s value high among the T20 franchises.
“If I get myself out it really pisses me off but if I get a first baller then no,” Pietersen said after receiving the Man of the Match award.
