Morgan smashes England to victory
Cricket story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:52:45GMT

England beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the first of two Twenty20 clashes in Dubai thanks to a record partnership between the hard-hitting duo of Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen.Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat and they made a languid start to proceedings. Opener Imran Nazir struggled alongside Imran Farhat and was dismissed for two from 15 balls.Farhat threatened to get away but, when he chased a quick single, the strong arm of Kevin Pietersen dislodged him as he...

Exciting victory delights Colly
Cricket story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:52:44GMT

England Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood praised Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan after his sides seven-wicket victory against world champions Pakistan in Dubai on Friday.After Pakistan had been restricted to 129-8 from their 20 overs England, despite stumbling at the start of their run chase, were indebted to Pietersen and Morgan who put on an unbroken 112-run partnership for the fourth wicket."It was an exciting victory because of the way we played," said Collingwood. "The bowlers set the tone at the top...

England slip to Pakistan loss
Cricket story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:52:42GMT

England slipped to defeat in their second Twenty20 clash against Pakistan in Dubai on Saturday.Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan couldnt repeat their heroics from Friday when they led the team to victory courtesy of a fantastic unbroken 112-run partnership.However, Pietersen give it his best shot as he hit a fine 62 from 40 balls, with four fours and three sixes in his cameo before succumbing lbw to spinner Saeed Ajmal.Jonathan Trott (39) offered some resistance as England opening the batting but...

Collingwood: No shame in defeat
Cricket story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:52:40GMT

Captain Paul Collingwood was not too downhearted after seeing his side beaten by four wickets in their second Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Dubai.A thunderous innings of 46 not out from 18 balls from Abdul Razzaq proved to be decisive, but Collingwood was pleased with the overall display.He said: "Theres no shame in losing like that, our two performances have been very, very good here."In Twenty20 cricket it only takes one batsman to have an exceptional innings and thats exactly what...

Shahzad debut impresses Collingwood
Cricket story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:52:38GMT

Captain Paul Collingwood was full of praise for debutant Ajmal Shahzad, following Englands four-wicket defeat in their second Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Dubai.Shahzad took two wickets in his opening over on the international stage, before coming in for heavy punishment as Abdul Razzaq smashed 46 not out from 18 balls to ensure the two-match series ended 1-1.Collingwood said: "Hes come in against the worlds best Twenty20 side and its not easy when youre bowling against guys like that."But hes got...

Kieswetter heading to Bangladesh
Cricket story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:52:36GMT

England have called up Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter to their squad for the one-day series in Bangladesh.The South Africa-born 22-year-old recently impressed for the England Lions, having only qualified for his adopted country in the last few weeks.However, Kieswetter has now earned a senior call and is excited about his quickfire promotion.He said: "Ive worked very hard over the course of the winter as part of the England Performance Programme and have been especially pleased with my recent form on the...

Yorkshire challenge excites Gibbs
Cricket story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:52:34GMT

Yorkshire have signed South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs as their second overseas player for this seasons Twenty20 campaign.The 35-year-old will miss the White Rose countys first two matches in the competition before joining up with the Yorkshire squad before the game against Durham Dynamos on June 10.He will be available to play in all of Yorkshires Twenty20 matches from then on."Ive always enjoyed playing cricket in the UK and have very good memories of Headingley as I got my first World...

Colly confirmed as vice captain
Cricket story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:52:33GMT

England coach Andy Flower has confirmed that Paul Collingwood will act as vice-captain to Alastair Cook for the five-week tour of Bangladesh.The Durham all-rounder captained England during last weeks drawn Twenty20 series against Pakistan while Cook is captaining his country in Bangladesh after it was confirmed last month that regular skipper Andrew Strauss was being rested."The last time Colly captained the one-dayers, it took a lot out of him, and he doesnt want to put his name forward in a medium...

Lions limp to heavy defeat
Cricket story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:52:31GMT

Only three England Lions players reached double figures as they slumped to an 83-run defeat in their 50-over game against Pakistan A in Dubai.Pakistan A were dismissed for 179 as David Wainwright took 3-26 in his ten tight overs before the Lions limped to an all-out total of just 96.Abdur Rehman and Raza Hasan took seven wickets between them with 17-year-old left-arm spinner Hasan finishing with particularly impressive figures of 3-16.Ian Bell, coming in at number three, finished the innings unbeaten...

Kieswetter shocked by call up
Cricket story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:52:29GMT

Craig Kieswetter cannot believe how quickly he has progressed to the full England team.The 22-year-old only completed his residency qualification last week but is set to make his senior England debut in a warm-up game against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI at Fatullah on Tuesday.Kieswetter earned a late call-up to the one-day party after impressing for the England Lions during their recent series in the United Arab Emirates, particularly when he scored 81 against the senior side in Abu Dhabi.He said:...