Kevin Pietersen makes it look easy as England sweep one-day series

The opener scores his second century in two games to guide the tourists to a four-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai. Audio interviews

Kevin Pietersen, with a knock of 130, was England's hero for the second consecutive game against Pakistan.
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DUBAI // After scoring his first one-day international century since 2008 on Saturday night, Kevin Pietersen pointed out that it must be hard to make tons in this format, or else people would do it all the time.

He made a second in successive knocks last night, as England sealed their 4-0 series cleansweep over Pakistan in Dubai. Easy, this 50 over cricket lark.

It is a boon for England that Pietersen is, indeed, making the game look easy at present. He had never scored back-to-back centuries before, even in his uninhibited pomp.

He has been as excellent in this one-day series as he was listless in the Tests. This tour of the UAE has been a case of either feast or famine for him, and he is not the only one.

England were shocked at the manner of their whitewash in the Test matches here, but they have gained ample revenge by doing the same to their opposition in the shorter format.

It is no coincidence that the had one centurion per match - with two apiece for Pietersen and his opening partner Alastair Cook - and they won each game.

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Pietersen apart, this was a turgid end to an ODI tour which should be consigned to statsguru as soon as possible, especially when looked at from Pakistan's point of view.

When even Shahid Afridi is lacking pizazz, you know it is time to put a series out of its misery.

The man who is chiefly responsible for putting backsides on seats at cricket matches in this part of the world scored nine and took none for 53 with the ball. It has been that type of affair.

When Afridi was dismissed in the first match of this series in Abu Dhabi, there was a mass exodus of the Zayed Cricket Stadium. It feels like nobody has bothered to come back since.

To call it lukewarm cricket is to over-rate it. It was genuinely cold at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium last night.

A number of the small congregation spent much of the game inside the bowels of the stands, near the warmer climes of the concessions stands.

One England supporter opted to do crossword puzzles on her iPad to pass the time. She must have got through a few.

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At least England played some cricket to warm the cockles. Even without their three most experienced bowlers - James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad - England's attack operated smoothly.

Jade Dernbach offered a reminder of his merits, not least with his smart death bowling, while Danny Briggs, the debutant left-arm spinner, returned neat figures of two for 39.

After they kept Pakistan to 237, the platform was set. Pietersen, England's most willing limelight-grabber, was only too happy to oblige.