Kevin Pietersen slammed blazing half-ton as England ultimately stumbled on the success on the Indian tour with a six-wicket victory in the one-off Twenty20 international in Kolkata on Saturday.

Pietersen (53) developed valuable 60-run third wicket stand alongside Samit Patel (21) after the cheap dismissal of openers Craig Kieswetter (12) and Alex Hales (11) to saw tourists chase-down the modest 121-run victory target with eight ball to spare.

Former skipper smashed three towering sixes and five boundaries in his 39-ball knock before plumbing lbw to part-time spinner Suresh Raina.

Ravinder Bopara accumulated unconquered 14 off 16 balls to help England a memorable year on a winning note.

India VS England: Finn claimed three wickets

Prior to this, Steven Finn claimed three while Tim Bresnan and Ravinder Bopara grabbed two wickets apiece to reduce the hosts 120-9 after they win the toss and opted to bat.

Raina, who has been dumped from the first Test squad of home series against West Indies, was the prominent run-scorer for India with 39 which he accumulated off 29 balls smashing twice sixes and four boundaries.

Skipper MS Dhoni scored 21 off 26 deliveries before getting run out off Jade Dernbach on the concluding ball of innings.

The tourists dimpled hosts by removing both openers, Rahane and Robin Uthappa, in the first eight balls to catches by Kieswetter.

The matters went horrible for England when Hales snapped a sparkling catch on gully to eliminate Virat Kohli for 15 off Tim Bresnan.

India VS England: Dhoni, Ashwin accumulated 25 from last two overs

Fin claimed Raina caught by Jonny Bairstow at mid-off and plunked the stumps of Jadeja for duck in back-to-back deliveries.

When Ravi Bopara uprooted the stumps of Yusuf Pathan and Praveen Kumar, it was left to Dhoni to add some much-needed thrust to the innings and he did so, boosting the total by cashing 25 runs from the last two overs beside Ravichandran Ashwin (17 not out).

It is noteworthy to cite that England were whitewashed 5-0 by World Champions India in the preceding one-day series.

India VS England only Twenty20 Scorecard