Collingwood sings familiar praises
September 08, 2010 16:42:00 UK
Paul Collingwood admitted he sounds "like a broken record" after hailing another excellent performance by England's Twenty20 bowling attack.
The T20 world champions completed an emphatic 2-0 series win against Pakistan in Cardiff on Tuesday, dismissing the visitors for just 89 and reaching their target with six wickets and six overs to spare.
It was Pakistan's lowest total in Twenty20 cricket, and they now head to Durham for the start of a one-day, 50-over series between the two teams.
England are 1.36 to triumph in this opening one-day game, while under-pressure Pakistan can be backed at 3.20.
"In this form of the game it can be tough to win consecutively," Collingwood remarked on the T20 win.
"To have that 'World Cup', you can have added pressure on you as well. But the way we've played over the last two games, the boys are enjoying that added pressure.
"It's a special achievement, and we obviously did it during the best time - which was during the World Cup.
"To continue with that form, even though we've lost a couple of players, I'm delighted in the response of the dressing room - and the bowlers as a unit are doing fantastically well.
"I think in the last seven games they haven't conceded more than 148 runs, which is fantastic in the Twenty20 format.
"It was exceptional again. I'm absolutely delighted with what was another strong performance.
"I'm going to sound like a broken record, but the bowlers again adapted to the conditions very well."
Pakistan never recovered from slumping to 22 for four after winning the toss and choosing to bat, as seamers Tim Bresnan (three for 10) and Stuart Broad (two for 18) did much of the damage before some typically tight bowling by England spinners Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy.
It all left Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi in no mood to offer excuses. He said: "We were very bad, inexperienced and immature. I thought we played very bad cricket."
"I said England are united because they are winning continually, and victory brings unity to the team.
"It will be a big challenge to compete in the one-dayers, but we have some time, and me, my coach and the team, we will sit together and talk."
England are 1.11 to win the forthcoming one-day series outright, while Pakistan are available at 7.00.
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