Kevin Pietersen makes England Cricket World Cup prediction after huge India win
ENGLAND beat India in the Cricket World Cup by 31 runs after a Jonny Bairstow masterclass, and now Kevin Pietersen has made his prediction on who will win the trophy.
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England produced a superb display against undefeated India to win by 31 runs at Edgbaston.
A century from Bairstow and 79 from Ben Stokes was enough to secure England’s victory after a somewhat nervy first 30 overs to India’s innings.
England set India 338 to win, in what would’ve been the highest chase in World Cup history.
Now, Pietersen thinks England can go all the way in the tournament.
Lots have said ‘the team that beats India will win the Cricket World Cup’
“Lots have said ‘the team that beats India will win the Cricket World Cup’,” he wrote on Twitter.
He subsequently followed the tweet an hour later with another one, that was simply an emoji of a trophy.
Despite beating India, England will still need to win against New Zealand on Wednesday (July 3) to qualify for the semi-finals.
Failing that, they’ll have to rely on Bangladesh beating Pakistan two days later, assuming they lose to India on Tuesday (July 2).
England captain Eoin Morgan said Bairstow and Jason Roy were magnificent to watch today, and their partnership at the start of the match were crucial to England’s win.
The opening pair made 160 runs from 22.1 overs before the fall of the first wicket.
“Our bowlers bowled well too,” he said. “Liam Plunkett has been outstanding for us for four years, absolutely outstanding, particularly in that middle period of the innings.
“No game in this tournament is easy. Every game has been extremely tough and it will continue to be.”
Bairstow picked up the Man of the Match award afterscoring 111 runs from 109 deliveries.
He also played a vital role in the field, scrambling across to prevent boundaries on more than one occasion.
Meanwhile, New Zealand will be looking to secure qualification against England on Wednesday.
The Black Caps were beaten by Australia yesterday by 86 runs, after they were bowled out for just 157.