England unimpressive in opener

Kevin Pietersen's team - on the island for the prestigious 20*20 for 20 on Saturday - avoided the ignominy of defeat to county cricket's champions despite posting a modest 121 for four.

A late blitz from young star Dawid Malan briefly threatened to cause an upset but Ed Joyce's departure going for a six in the penultimate over left an unthinkable 18 required from the last, sent down by Andrew Flintoff.

Left-hander Malan finished unbeaten on 45 to further enhance his reputation as a clean hitter.

But ultimately this was another turgid contest dominated by the bowlers thanks to the slow surface at the Stanford ground.

It took an unbeaten 39 from Owais Shah against his county colleagues to ensure England posted a run-a-ball target after domestic 20-over champions Middlesex stifled the run rate in mid-innings through their twin spinners Shaun Udal and Murali Kartik.

It was Indian left-armer Kartik who bagged the prize scalp of Pietersen with a delivery which lured the batsman down the track and spun sharply to create a stumping chance.

Udal finished with brilliant figures of 4-0-14-0 but there would have been reward in the final column but for an extraordinary gaffe by Andrew Strauss.

Dangerman Flintoff had not got off the mark when Udal induced a false flick but Strauss somehow contrived to drop the simplest of catches to great hilarity in the middle.

Despite England's own sloppiness, needing 41 from the final four overs proved too much for Middlesex and Flintoff and James Anderson closed out the match.