The Hindu : Sport : Collingwood propels England

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Saturday, Mar 31, 2007
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Collingwood propels England

— PHOTO: AFP

NOT QUITE THERE: Ireland's Trent Johnston runs out England's Paul Collingwood.

GEORGETOWN: Paul Collingwood missed out on a well-deserved century but still ensured Ireland's early brace did not stop England from posting a challenging 266 for seven in their World Cup Super Eight match here on Friday.

Collingwood (90) and Andrew Flintoff (43) put on 81 for the fifth wicket to revive the innings after England, which chose to bat, lost opener Ed Joyce (one) and skipper Michael Vaughan (six) as early as the sixth over.

Useful innings

Kevin Pietersen, the new World No. 1 ODI batsman, chipped in with a 47-ball 48 which included five boundaries.

The 30-year-old Collingwood kept one end intact and hit eight boundaries and three sixes during his stubborn 82-ball knock before he was finally run out in the last over.

Collingwood's knock saved England's blushes as it ran into a spirited Irish bowling attack. Ireland was given a good start by its lanky paceman Boyd Rankin.

Caught off guard

He surprised Joyce, a former Irish international, with a sharp incoming delivery which hit the off-stump in the second over before forcing an edge off Vaughan to wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien.

The 6ft 7in fast bowler finished with two for 28 off his seven overs.

Pietersen, who initiated the recovery, hit three boundaries off Irish skipper Trent Johnston's opening over as he and Ian Bell (31) steadied the innings during their 66-run stand for the third wicket.

Smart catch

When it seemed Pietersen would put together a big score, he was smartly snapped up at mid-wicket by William Porterfield off Kyle McCallan.

Flintoff looked threatening as he hit a boundary off the first ball he faced.

But the Irish bowlers kept a tight line and length and never allowed Flintoff to hit out.

Flintoff finally chopped Johnston onto his stumps after hitting four boundaries during his 62-ball knock. Collingwood reached his fifty off 65 deliveries and then cut loose, adding a quickfire 51 for the sixth wicket with Paul Nixon, who scored 19. — AFP

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