Kevin Pietersen is heading back home for the birth of his first child confident he will be returning to the Caribbean to help England reach the World Twenty20 final. Pietersen said what he hopes will be a temporary farewell to the squad in style with a superb innings of 53 as England beat his native South Africa by a crushing 39 runs in the Super Eights here on Saturday.
That win maintained England's perfect record in the second round after, thanks mainly to another man-of-the-match winning innings of 73 not out from Pietersen, they previously beat champions Pakistan by six wickets.
Victory over New Zealand in St Lucia on Monday will guarantee England a semi-final place and even defeat by the Black Caps may not spell the end of their hopes, with net run-rate in line to come to their rescue if required.
Pietersen's commanding innings against South Africa came in just 33 balls and featured a six and eight fours in a total of 168 for seven.
It all added to the joy the 29-year-old is set to experience off the field, with Pietersen saying: "It's my first child, so it's a hell of an exciting time for me.
"I'll be dashing across the Atlantic and, I hope, dashing back.
"I'm flying back to London in the next 24 hours and hoping everything goes well and according to plan, that there's no complications.
Pietersen put on 94 in under 12 overs with Craig Kieswetter before spinners Michael Yardy and Graeme Swann took five top-order wickets between them.
"Today was as close to perfect, apart from a couple of wide balls," Pietersen said of Saturday's victory at the Kensington Oval.
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