The Master of the Bedfordshire Challenge has his go...
WORLD CUP CHALLENGE
The uncapped England side set off to the world cup with few expectations, as all before them had failed with varying degrees of style. The team starting the first game against Zimbabwe was: *+Peter Bowler, Matt Wood, Mark Wagh, Chris Bassano, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Ian Fisher, Martin Saggers, Paul Hutchison, Kevin Dean and Jason Brown, with Michael Burns, Gerry Brophy, Chris Tremlett and Ricky Anderson as cover.
Zimbabwe batted first and Dean made two early breakthroughs, removing Grant Flower and Stuart Carlisle. However, an unbeaten 115* from Andy Flower set England 248. Despite half-centuries from Bowler and Pietersen, the fragility of the middle order showed and England ended 40 behind.
All five frontline bowlers shared the wickets against Holland, as only Hans Mol (52) put up significant resistance before England knocked off the 151 needed in just 17 overs. Holland set England 201 thanks to Danie Keulder's 59, as Jason Brown took 3-32, but Mark Wagh and Kevin Pietersen both hit their second half-centuries of the Cup to ease England home.
England batted first under laden skies against Pakistan, and at 51-4 this looked a terrible mis-call by Bowler, but his 67 and Ian Bell's 56 rescued England to 175 all out before Chris Tremlett - in for the ineffectual Hutchison - produced one of the great spells of ODI history as his 10-6-14-4 reduced Pakistan from 30-0 to 41-6, before Azhar Mahmood helped them to a more respectable 139 all out, Brown taking 3-29.
Tremlett and Brown both took two each against India, but Sachin Tendulkar was too good for them as he hit a majestic 106 in India's 215-8 before England collapsed to 155 all out, Gautam Dutta and Harbhajan Singh taking three each.
So it came down to a mirror of reality, needing to beat Australia to progress, and with a weaker side, there was no chance, was there? Australia started imperious until the introduction of Martin Saggers (3-42) tore the heart out of the top order, before the spinners kept the lower order quiet - until Gillespie and Warne took 22 off the last two overs.
Chasing 214, England started slowly as Matt Wood was bowled by Adam Dale for 8 before Mark Wagh (73) and Bowler added a measured 167 for the second wicket. Chris Bassano then joined Bowler, who hit a superb 107* to apply the finishing touches to an eight-wicket win with nine balls to spare.
So the Super Six it was, and the hosts, South Africa. Tremlett once again starred, as he and Dean reduced the Proteas to 25-3 before contributions from Kallis, Cullinan, Boucher and McKenzie allowed them to recover to 97-5. Ian Fisher then dismissed the last two in an over and Tremlett and Dean kept it tight at the death to set England 187.
Falling to 67-3, England looked in trouble, but a mature 65* from Bassano added 78 for the fourth wicket with Pietersen (44) as England scraped home by six wickets in the final over to leave them needing to beat one of Sri Lanka and New Zealand to reach the Semi-finals.
This time it was Kevin Dean's turn to star among the seamers with 3-26, but the change bowlers' control in the late order was what was most important. Jason Brown took 3-35 to reduce Sri Lanka from 149-3 to 160-7, and Tremlett (0-24) and Dean returned to keep number seven Sanath Jayasuriya very quiet with 12 - and Suwanji Madanayake faced 18 balls for 0 before being caught behind last ball.
The target was 174, and Muttiah Muralitharan's 3-30 made things exceptionally difficult, but Bassano's 44 and Ian Bell's unbeaten 20 provided the platform for Martin Saggers to hit the winning runs, again in the final over.
New Zealand were next, and their openers set about the England bowlers, with Saggers (1-66) bearing the brunt. Dean starred at the death with 5-34 but Kyle Mills' 66 had already done the damage in setting 241. Falling to 75-6, England didn't have a chance, and only 31* for the ninth wicket preserved respectability at 165-8.
This meant the Kiwis would again be the opponents in the semi final, and despite 69 from Michael Burns - who replaced team mate Wood for the super six onwards - and 48 from Pietersen, the brittle lower order meant England wasted 11 balls and were all out for 224, Alex Tait taking his second straight three wicket haul.
New Zealand's chase started strongly again, Dean going at almost eight an over, and England were unable to contain the deep and aggressive Kiwi batting. Craig McMillan's 83* easily carried them home in the 49th over with six wickets in hand. The journey had been brave, but it was now over.
The New Zealanders then racked up 277-6 in the final against South Africa, Matt Horne (75) and Matt Bell (87) adding 133 for the first wicket, before bowling out the hosts for 198 inside forty overs.
ENGLAND TOURNAMENT TOP SCORERS
MA Wagh: 338@33.80, 3x50, HS 73
PD Bowler: 295@32.78, 1x100, 2x50, HS 107*
CWG Bassano: 291@41.57, 1x50, HS 65*
KP Pietersen: 246@41.00, 2x50, HS 66*
IR Bell: 204@40.80, 1x50, HS 56
M Burns: 121@30.25, 1x50, HS 69
TOP WICKET TAKERS
KJ Dean: 20@21.95@4.45, 1x5wI, BB 5-34
JF Brown: 18@20.89@3.77, BB 3-29
CT Tremlett: 12@19.67@3.37, BB 4-14
MJ Saggers: 11@36.36@4.04, BB 3-42
ID Fisher: 9@39.89@3.84, BB 2-23
Beat that!
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a very good win of england...
