England overcame some uneasy moments with bat and in the field to record a comfortable 48-run win against Ireland in their opening Super Eights match. Paul Collingwood's 82-ball 90 nursed them to a respectable 266 aided by forties from Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff. Ireland's batsmen couldn't stay up with the rate although Niall O'Brien fought a defiant hand while Flintoff added four wickets to his useful 43.
Ireland, though, were not shamed and made life difficult for England after Michael Vaughan decided to bat first. When Pietersen was removed the scoreline tottered at 113 for 4. But Collingwood, England's middle-order safety valve, again assessed the situation and calmly assured against a major collapse. Flintoff's dismissal in the 44th over left Collingwood to nurse the closing overs. His fifty came off 65 balls, then he showed that power-hitting doesn't just reside with the two men who sandwich him in the order. The final six overs added 71 runs and England always knew that all they then needed was a competent performance in the field; it was about all they produced.
The pitch was slightly two paced and early inroads into Ireland's top order meant they couldn't find any momentum. James Anderson removed the dangerous Jeremy Bray in his first over as the powerful opener tried to slash his first ball through the covers but found Ravi Bopara at point. Sajid Mahmood produced the next wicket, although it was his nifty flick onto the stumps rather than his bowling which accounted for Eoin Morgan.
With two of their key players gone so early the innings could have quickly faded away, but Ireland are made of sterner stuff and William Porterfield anchored the third-wicket stand with O'Brien. Ed Joyce dropped O'Brien early on as his poor day continued and reprieved, O'Brien managed to move along comfortably. However, Porterfield became bogged down as Vaughan set tight ring fields.
The pressure paid off as Porterfield got a leading edge off Flintoff then the spinners applied a tourniquet and squeezed the middle order. Monty Panesar bowled a touch too quickly but picked up Andre Botha and Kevin O'Brien to keep himself in the match. By far the most impressive spin for England came courtesy of their captain as Vaughan had his first ODI bowl since he turned his arm over against Australia, at Edgbaston, in 2005. His reward was O'Brien deceived by some teasing flight, but O'Brien deserves much praise for his second fifty of the tournament. A late dash by Trent Johnston and Andrew White showed up England's lack of rurthlessness before
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