HAMPSHIRE newboy Kevin Pietersen was dismissed cheaply on his England debut yesterday.

The 24-year-old, Hampshire's big close season signing last month from Notts, made just five as England defeated Namibia by 67 runs at Windhoek.

Pietersen, batting at number five, had a long wait before his debut international innings as Michael Vaughan (89) and Andrew Strauss (73) put on 150 for the third wicket before the skipper was dismissed.

Pietersen arrived at the crease with England 215-3 but the score was 226-6 when he was trapped leg before by Louis Berger.

England eventually reached 260-6 off their 42 overs before restricting their hosts to 193-4.

Vaughan, who moved from 50 to 89 in only 20 balls before holing out in the deep just short of his maiden one-day international ton for England, said: "Getting a hundred is not the be-all and end-all - getting a good couple of hours at the crease was the important thing.

"It was a good work-out for us, because we've got everything out of the game that we'd have liked to have done. It's always nice to win the game, but Namibia put us under a decent amount of pressure - especially with the new ball.

"Batting was pretty tough in the first hour or so.

"Then when they came out to bat they have a few players who are quite explosive, and the bowlers were made to work very hard.

"We've also got 42 overs of fielding under our belts, so it's been a good day for us."

The victory was completed after a late change of heart from the Namibian cricket Board, who previously rejected an England request to play 14 players yesterday but agreed to another appeal to allow 12 to take part.

It allowed England to give Simon Jones five overs, although he was not available to bat.

Vaughan explained: "On tours these days, you don' get as many games of cricket - we played 12 players in the Caribbean and we try to get as many players as possible batting and bowling.

"It's just logic when you've only got two games of cricket going into an international on Friday.

"They did exactly the same, because they had a guy who batted at number three who didn't field.

"It's probably something that's going to happen a lot more in the future."