CAPTAIN Paul Collingwood toasted England’s complete performance in their do-or-die match against Pakistan in the World Twenty20.
Collingwood’s team responded to their shock loss to minnows Holland by thrashing the Pakistanis by 48 runs at The Oval, to book their place in the Super Eights stage of the tournament.
Kevin Pietersen passed a fitness test on his troublesome Achilles to crash 58 while Luke Wright’s rapid 34 off just 16 deliveries set the platform for a challenging score of 185 for five.
Three wickets inside the powerplay period then averted any chance of Younus Khan’s team eliminating England from their own competition.
‘‘I am still convinced Friday night was meant to happen and what we needed to do we went out and did here,’’ said Collingwood. ‘‘We got it 100 per cent right.
‘‘That performance is what we needed. We showed a lot of character tonight.
‘‘Friday was a massive blow to us, so it was fair to say we were under quite a lot of pressure to put in a performance like that.
‘‘From ball one we proved how much we wanted it and had them under pressure.
‘‘People put their hands up and all 11 can be very proud of themselves.
‘‘They showed how brave they are as blokes. And I am now more excited than I was before the Netherlands game.’’ Pietersen was plunged into the Group B encounter after getting the all clear earlier in the day – although Collingwood insisted no chances would be taken with their star batsman in an Ashes summer.
‘‘He ticked all the boxes and was desperate to play,’’ said Collingwood.
‘‘The medical staff had a good look at him and he is not going to be risked at all this summer, it’s as simple as that.’’ England made three changes to the side downed by the Dutch, although the option of fielding twin spinners Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid was only plumped for after watching South Africa destroy Scotland earlier in the day.
They operated effectively together in mid-innings as the required run rate rocketed.
Pakistan captain Younus top-scored with an unbeaten 46 and later rued the shoddy first-innings display.
‘‘I think 160 was chaseable,’’ he said.
‘‘The big worry for us at the moment is fielding, we have missed chances and run-outs, which probably gave them 20- 25 runs.
‘‘Maybe our guys are not fielding well because they are under pressure.
‘‘Everybody in the world is talking about our fielding – but we are always like that in international cricket.’’ Pakistan must now inflict a heavy defeat on Holland to join England in the latter stages, and are bound to shake up their side.
‘‘We will have to do it because if we don’t we will be out of the competition,’’ said Younus, of the need for a big win.
‘‘Hopefully the senior guys will come forward and do a job for our team. It’s the only chance we have.’’ However, he attempted to retain Twenty20’s original spirit in reflecting on his side’s immediate future.
‘‘It’s international cricket but it is only a fun game,’’ he said. ‘‘It will be sad for us if we are not in the Super Eights but it’s not a disaster.
‘‘Twenty20 cricket is all about entertaining the crowd; it’s all about fun.’’ Meanwhile, Andrew Flintoff suffered no adverse reaction when he bowled for the first time outdoors since his most recent injury setback.
The all-rounder sent down the equivalent of six overs before the start of Lancashire’s LV County Championship match against Somerset at Old Trafford.
Flintoff repeated the exercise during the lunch break and Lancashire coach Peter Moores revealed there had been no reaction.
The 31-year-old’s four overs at lunch, under the watchful eye of Moores and personal physiotherapist Dave Roberts, was more robust and at good pace.
‘‘He was bowling within himself but he came through nicely. He didn’t feel anything,’’ said Moores.
‘‘He looked in decent rhythm so it was quite a promising day for him. It’s his first time in the middle and we are very pleased.
‘‘The key now is to check whether there has been any reaction to that. If not, then we can keep upping it a bit.’’ Lancashire have not specified a date for his return to match action but it is thought that the Championship game against Hampshire at Liverpool on June 17 is realistic.
It seems the trip to Durham on Thursday is too early.
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