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Paul Bolton, sports writer for The Sports HQ
England stars Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, both former users of Woodworm cricket bats, had contrasting fortunes on the opening day of the Indian Premier League in South Africa.
Batsman Pietersen finished on the winning side as the Bangalore Royal Challengers defeated defending champions Rajasthan Royals by 75 runs in Cape Town.
But all-rounder Flintoff tasted defeat as the Chennai Super Kings went down by 19 runs to the Mumbai Indians in the opening match.
Pietersen marked his IPL debut with a brisk 32 and helped Bangalore recover from a poor start, when they slumped to nought for two, to reach 133 for eight.
Former India leg-spinner Anil Kumble then took five wickets for five runs as Rajasthan were shot out for just 58 in 15.1 overs.
But Flintoff’s bowling took a battering as he conceded 44 runs in his four overs including three fours in four balls pummelled by unknown batsman Abishek Nayar.
Flintoff also had to have treatment after he was struck on the foot batting against Sri Lankan paceman Lasith Malinga.
Indian great Sachin Tendulkar made 59 for the Mumbai Indians and former Australia opener Matthew Hayden led Chennai’s response with 44.
Flintoff claimed his first IPL wicket when he had Zaheer Khan caught at wide long off. Flintoff took a four and a six off West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo but then skied a return catch to Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for 24.
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