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Paul Bolton, sports writer for The Sports HQ
Andrew Flintoff came out on top in his keenly-awaited tussle with England team-mate Kevin Pietersen in the Indian Premier League in Port Elizabeth.
Pietersen was dismissed for a duck as his Bangalore Royal Challengers were beaten by 92 runs by Flintoff’s Chennai Super Kings, who went to the top of the table.
Pietersen and Flintoff, both former users of Woodworm cricket bats, are the most expensive players in the tournament and it was Flintoff who claimed the honours.
He made an unbeaten 22 to help Chennai to 179 for five though Pietersen briefly checked their progress by bowling Parthiv Patel with his first ball.
But former Australia star Matthew Hayden pummelled 65 from 35 balls as Chennai prospered after winning the toss to reach the highest Twenty20 score at St George's Park.
Bangalore, captained by Pietersen, struggled from the start and were tied in knots by Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who finished with three for eleven in his four overs.
Home star Jacques Kallis, playing his first IPL match of the season, briefly took the attack to the bowlers but his innings was ended at 24 when he fell lbw to compatriot Albie Morkel.
New Zealander Ross Taylor was caught and bowled by the miserly Flintoff and Pietersen went first ball to Muralitharan.
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