Kevin Pietersen made a timely return from injury to secure England’s progress into the next stage of the World Twenty20 tournament following an emphatic win over Pakistan.

The former England captain missed Friday’s humiliating defeat by Holland with a recurrence of the Achilles problems which have plagued him since this winter’s tour of the Caribbean.

But after passing a strenuous fitness test before the must-win encounter at The Oval, Pietersen hit a match-winning 58 off 38 balls as England bounced back from their opening match embarrassment to secure a 48-run victory.

Tonight’s triumph, which was achieved before a 23,000 capacity Oval crowd, guarantees England’s progress to the Super Eight stage of the tournament on run-rate regardless of the result between Pakistan and Holland at Lord’s on Tuesday.