Kolkata: England cruised home by six wickets in the one-off Twenty20 international against India at Eden Gardens 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.
Pietersen, who missed the visitors' last ODI here because of a fractured left thumb, returned in style with a match-winning knock that came off 39 balls as England chased down India's modest 121-run target with eight balls to spare.
After being dropped on one by Suresh Raina, Pietersen hit five boundaries and three sixes en route his quickfire innings as the reigning T20 champions proved their supremacy in the shortest format of the game.
Samit Patel was the second-best run-maker for England with a 25-ball 21, while Ravi Bopara remained unbeaten on 14.
Earlier clinical performance by England bowlers ensured India were reduced to a paltry score of 120 runs. Suresh Raina top scored for India with an aggressive score of 39 runs. Steve Finn who has made rapid strides throughout the tour was the most impressive with figures of 3 wickets and gave away only 22 runs.
Winning the toss, India began their batting on the wrong note losing Ajinkya Rahane to Finn in the very first over before the batsman could bother the scorer.
Robin Uthappa was next to go for just one as he failed to celebrate his return to the national team after three years. The Karnataka player edged an away ball from Tim Bresnan and Kieswetter
In need of a partnership with the scorecard reading five for two, in-form Virat Kohli looked in fine nick as he began the repair work with vice-captain Raina. But Kolhi did not last too long as he was back in the sixth over with his pull off Bresnan ended in the hands of Alex Hales near the long-on boundary.
But Raina in debutant Manoj Tiwary's company then started to resurrect the Indian innings with a 40-run fourth wicket stand before the former was cleaned up by left-arm spinner Samit Patel.
Finn then removed a danger-looking Raina and scalped Ravindra Jadeja in two successive leave tottering at 74 for six.
Realising the sluggish surface, Dhoni played cautiously cutting out on adventurous strokes, but Ravi Bopara worsened India's condition with a double wicket burst in the 17th over. Pathan (10) and Praveen Kumar (0) both played across the line to see their stumps dislodged.
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