Superstars need 100 runs for million-dollar payday

England have set the Stanford Superstars a target of just 100 runs to win the Stanford Twenty20 match for 20 million dollars here Saturday.

England were dismissed for 99 one ball short of their full allocation of 20 overs, after choosing to bat first under the lights on a hard, easy-paced Stanford Cricket Ground pitch.

Watched by a capacity crowd that included Fijian golfer Vijay Singh, the former world number one, England's batsmen paid heavily for cavalier batting.

The nerves were evident when Ian Bell and Matt Prior emerged to open the batting for the visitors, but England were dented when the Superstars ran through the cream of their batting with mean, purposeful bowling supported by sharp fielding.

Samit Patel's 22 was the top score in the England's innings, and only two other batsmen reached double figures - Prior made 12 and Paul Collingwood 10.

England captain Kevin Pietersen was bowled behind his legs for just seven by Darren Sammy.

The historic match between the Superstars, a collection of West Indies all-stars, and the England national side will make the players on the winning team instant dollar millionaires.

As well as 11 million dollars being split evenly between the playing members of the winning team, with a further million will be shared between the 12th man and other non-playing squad members and an additional million among the victorious management team.

The remaining prize money will be shared between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the West Indies Cricket Board.

It will also bring the curtain down on the inaugural Stanford Super Series which was created by Antigua-based American business tycoon Allen Stanford before being given the go-ahead by Caribbean and English cricket officials.