Kevin Pietersen put the confusion of the last month behind him, and Owais Shah made a strong claim for a place with hundreds in England's opening tour match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Sunday. Pietersen hit 103 at better than a run-a-ball, and Shah was undefeated on 125, as England, choosing to bat, reached 424 for eight in its first innings at the close on the first day of the three-day match at Warner Park. Steve Harmison made 58 in a late flurry, and Alastair Cook got 52 early on, as England plundered the inexperienced St. Kitts and Nevis attack. Leg-spinner Akito Willett, the son of former West Indies left-arm spin bowler Elquemedo Willett, still managed a career-best five wickets for 118 runs from 24 overs. Pietersen was removed from the post of England captain, following a dispute with former England head coach Peter Moores, but he showed there clearly may not be any hard feelings, when he smashed 13 fours and three sixes from 107 balls. Shah, looking to unseat Ian Bell for a place in the middle order for the first Test against West Indies in Jamaica, cashed in on the modest attack and hit a dozen boundaries from 169 balls. England was away to a shaky start, when its new captain Andrew Strauss fell for a duck, when he fended the second ball of the match from Calvin Williams to third slip. Ian Bell came to the crease and with Alastair Cook, the new England vice captain, repaired the early setback with a stand of 96 for the second wicket before Willett removed them both in the final half-hour before lunch. Bell was caught and bowled for 36, and in Willett's next over, Cook was bowled to leave the visitors on 118 for three at lunch. Scores: England 424-8 (Owais Shah 125 not out, Kevin Pietersen 103, Steve Harmison 58, Alastair Cook 52, Ian Bell 36; Akito Willett 24-3-118-5) vs St. Kitts and Nevis. Bravo to miss England Tests In Barbados, Dwayne Bravo is likely to make his first appearance for West Indies following ankle surgery only in the five One-Day Internationals against England. Clyde Butts, chairman of the West Indies selection panel, disclosed that all-rounder Bravo, a key member of the Caribbean side since his international debut four years ago, is still recovering from an operation on his left ankle and will miss the preceding four Tests. SA seals ODI series South Africa sealed a series victory over Australia with an eight-wicket win in Adelaide Monday. Batting first Australia was bowled out for 222 and the visitors overhauled the total for the loss of two wickets. The host dropped from a comfortable position of 110-2 in the 20th over to 222 all out in the 48th. Hashim Amla was stylish as usual in a controlled 80 off 103 balls while AB de Villiers, who had stood in behind the stumps for Mark Boucher, sped toward 82 from 85 after starting calmly. He was named the man of the match. The result came with 71 balls remaining and South Africa hadn't even called for the batting Powerplay. Scores: South Africa 223-2 (de Villiers 82*, Amla 80*) beat Australia 222 (Ponting 63, Steyn 3
