Collingwood sets up an England win

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GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- Paul Collingwood's late flurry with the bat and some tight bowling gave England a 48-run win over rank outsiders Ireland in their World Cup Super Eights match in Georgetown on Friday.

Collingwood smashed 90 off 82 balls to help England add 65 runs in the last five overs and make 266 for seven after they had looked set for a meager score against the World Cup debutants.

England picked up their first two points of the Super Eights having failed to carry any through from the group stage following a defeat to New Zealand. Ireland have no points.

Collingwood hit eight fours and three sixes in his 82-ball knock which enabled England to recover from an unimpressive start.

Ireland, who made the second stage after beating Pakistan, had England at 23 for two and 113 for four before Collingwood salvaged a decent score late on.

England opener Ed Joyce, who played for Ireland until 2005, gave his former team mates an early present when he left a Boyd Rankin ball on off stump to be bowled for one.

Paceman Rankin struck again in the sixth over when England captain Michael Vaughan, who elected to bat, edged a tentative defensive shot behind for six.

Vaughan, who made the World Cup after recovering from a longstanding knee problem and a hamstring injury, has yet to make a one-day hundred in 81 internationals and his poor form continues to contrast with his impressive captaincy.

The 32-year-old hit 26, 45 and one in the group stages.

Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell then combined to add 66 before Bell was adjudged to have gloved medium-pacer Kevin O'Brien to his brother Niall O'Brien standing up behind the stumps.

The England number three took 74 balls to make 31.

Pietersen soon followed two short of a deserved fifty when he clipped off-spinner Kyle McCallan to William Porterfield at short mid-wicket to leave England four down.

Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff shared a stand of 81 but failed to hit out sufficiently before Flintoff was bowled by captain Trent Johnston for 43 trying a difficult cut.

Ireland's reply started badly with Jeremy Bray and Eoin Morgan falling early and despite Niall O'Brien's 63 they never threatened England's total and were bowled out for 218.

Andrew Flintoff grabbed four for 43.

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Collingwood hit eight fours and three sixes in his 82-ball innings.

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