Flintoff-less England stagger to victory
Collingwood guided England to an imposing total after losing a flurry of wickets
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Sunday, 18, Mar 2007 10:15
England have gone some way to putting off the field misdemeanours, most notably by dropped all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, behind them by registering a 51-run win over World Cup underdogs Canada in St Lucia.
Having made 279-6 in their 50 overs, anything other than a comprehensive victory would have been a disappointment, but on today's evidence Michael Vaughan's men will be no more than tournament also-rans in the Caribbean.
Despite restricting the Canadians to 65-4 early on, dogged resistance from Ashif Mulla (57), Abdool Samad (37), Sunil Dhaniram (30) and Desmond Chumney (27 not out) pushed Canada on to 228-7 after their allotted overs.
Were it not for the quick-thinking of wicket-keeper Paul Nixon in stumping Mulla, England could have faced a very nervy finish.
Nevertheless, Canada's total represented their highest ever in the World Cup and seeing as though Kenya, England's next opponents and the team they must beat to make it to the super eight stage, destroyed them by seven wickets, the day was not a confidence-inspiring one for Vaughan's team.
Following on from the drinking exploits of Flintoff, who along with being banned for today's game has been stripped of the vice-captaincy, and five other squad members, opener Ed Joyce grinded out 66 while all-rounder Paul Collingwood made an unbeaten 62.
England looked set to pass 300 after a century stand between Joyce and skipper Vaughan (45) but faltered after losing three wickets for just eight runs.
Spinner Dhaniram did the most damage and finished with 3-41 from his ten overs.
Canada won the toss and going with the results so far in the tournament, decided to put England in to bat.
Duncan Fletcher's side began well with Vaughan smashing seven boundaries before being caught off the bowling of spinner Samad to leave England on 101-1.
Joyce continued to bide his time and made his 66 off 103 balls, which contained just four boundaries.
But England suffered another batting collapse with Ian Bell (28), Kevin Pietersen (5) and Joyce being undone by Canada's spinners to leave them on 161-4.
Debutant Ravi Bopara steadied the ship with 29 to put on a crucial partnership of 79 with Collingwood.
Glovesman Nixon, one of the players fined for breaking discipline rules, whacked 23 off just eight balls which included four boundaries and one six.
Nixon and Collingwood, who reached 62 off only 48 balls, saw out the innings to post a testing total for the minnows.