Story England One-Day Tour 2007-8 (C2007)

[Super Baz]

what a final , great work on that series mate well done ,looking forward to your next story

 

[Pakistani Army]

Great game, great presentation mate. Simply great works

 

[tonka998]

Great pres! Very entertaining read! KUTGW!

 

[surendar]

What a victory to SouthAfrica.. Its always dangerous to leave Pollock batting in the end.. Luck also favoured SA well.

And this story reflect the hard works very well. And if you wish, you can participate in the Story of the Month competition too. There is a separate thread stickied for nomination here. Keep up the amazing works :cool:

 

[flintoff]

10th January 2008

ENGLAND RETURN FOR SOUTH AFRICA TOURNAMENT

Paul Collingwood and his squad left Heathrow airport this week for the second time this winter to take part in the South African one-day tournament. The competition also includes Zimbabwe as well as the hosts. England will be hungry for revenge against South Africa after being narrowly beaten in last month's Sharjah tournament final.

The squad jetted home from the United Arab Emirates for 2 weeks over Christmas to see their families before returning to the tour. Hopefully the side will have had time to reflect on the previous couple of month's ups and downs, and the break should leave them relaxed and refreshed.

England will play 3 games against both South Africa and Zimbabwe, with the top 2 teams from the group meeting in the final early next month.

We at Cricket Weekly caught up with some of England's stars at the departure gate recently, to ask them about the continuation of the tour.

Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff was in a relaxed mood smiling and posing for photographs. I managed to ask him a few questions:-

AW:- Freddie, is it disappointing to be going away again now you've been back for 2 weeks?
AF:- A little bit yeah, but it's only like yourself going back to work after Christmas, you expect it really. I was just grateful the ECB allowed us to come back for a bit. It's important, you know?

AW:- How do you feel about the side's form going into the competition, will you be rusty after the time off?
AF:- Maybe slightly, but once we get out in the nets it shouldn't be a problem. I was in pretty good form just before the break and I feel great now, raring to go.

AW:- Looking for revenge over South Africa, or will you just be happy to win the tournament?
AF:- I can't speak for all of us, but me personally, I just want to win the tournament. We know we're good enough to beat South Africa, and I'm sure we'll give them a run for their money when we do face them.

I also managed to catch up with young England starlet Graham Wagg before take off, and the 24 year old was still beaming after his exploits so far in the tour, where he had taken 21 wickets.

AW:- Graham, you've been a revelation for England this winter, I bet you didn't fancy coming home, did you?!
GW:- To be honest I was desperate to get back! I couldn't wait to see all my friends and family and tell them all about the tour. I'm enjoying it all so much; the training, the matches, room sharing with Hoggy, it's all been absolutely brilliant.

AW:- How do you see the upcoming tournament going, do you think England are favourites?
GW:- Erm, probably not, as South Africa are at home, but we really feel we can win the competition. I think we've progressed a lot as a team over the last couple of months and we're well capable of winning it.

AW:- Finally, what are your personal goals for the trip?
GW:- To be honest, I just want to keep my place. I've obviously taken loads of wickets, but my batting has been poor, and I'd love to score a 50 in England colours. It's quite hard to make an impact from number 8, but I'll give it a go.

At the time of publication, England were due to play their first match of the series against South Africa in Cape Town, tomorrow. We wish them luck.

 

[Super Baz]

good luck with the tournement , looking forward to it greatly

 

[Pakistani Army]

Nice interview with freddie. Good luck in the next tournament mate!

 

[flintoff]

ENGLAND BACK TO WINNING WAYS

ENGLAND 112/3 (12.3 OVERS) beat SOUTH AFRICA 111 ALL OUT (16.5 OVERS) by 7 wickets

Matthew Hoggard blasted through South Africa's top order in Cape Town last night, to gain a measure of revenge for England's recent Sharjah final defeat.

Hoggard took 4-18 to reduce South Africa to 31/6 at one stage, as England romped home to take the opening game of the South Africa tournament by 7 wickets.

It started so well for the away side, with Hoggard and Anderson giving a lesson in tight line and length bowling. Many of South Africa's batsmen simply got frustrated before finding fielders with rash shots. Hoggard got Dippenaar and Smith caught on the cover boundary in the opening over, and England never looked back.

Smith went in the 1st over

Kallis was the exception in the Proteas line-up, always staying cool, calm and collected. Gibbs hit a couple of good fours down the ground before he too slashed at a decent delivery from Hoggard and was caught at point.

Anderson picked up the wickets of De Villiers and Rudolph, before Hoggard got his fourth wicket, that of Boucher at long off to leave South Africa 31/6. Pollock was more reserved when he arrived at the crease and the two old heads set about getting the home side to a reasonable total. Kallis poked a few fours, and then hit two sixes over mid wicket off Flintoff. Collingwood was also being dispatched by Pollock and the 7th wicket partnership was threatening to undo England's earlier hard work.

Once again it was Graham Wagg who got the breakthrough, his slower ball got Pollock caught at gully for 17. Boje took it upon himself to haul South Africa into 3 figures, with some big shots back over the bowlers heads, but South Africa looked down heartened soon after, when Kallis was dismissed.

Collingwood bowled a beauty to the South African number 3 which he could only lob to mid on, Kallis gone for a fine 47. Nel continued the attacking theme hitting a four down to third man and a big six from a pull shot to the frustration of Flintoff. The last wicket stand of 28 ended when Wagg got Nel caught at long on, much to England's relief.

England attacked in the early overs with the field in, Struass hitting two lofted fours off the back foot, but he didn't last long as Pollock got him caught behind for 12. At the other end Trescothick was hitting out well against Pollock, while Vaughan tried to pick the one's and two's off Ntini.

Vaughan seemed to be set for a good score until he looped a cover drive to Boje, but England were still looking comfortable at 60/2 off 8 overs.

KP hits out

Kevin Pietersen as usual, started like a train, smashing two huge sixes off Nel. His psychotic stare doing nothing to put the Englishman off. Pietersen also played a delightful sweep off Boje for four in the 10th over, and he looked set to stick it out until the finish.

Trescothick didn't however, ran out after changing his mind on a quick single. The Somerset man gone for 39. Cook came in a showed he was playing with plenty of confidence at the moment, timing everything, including a six over square leg off Boje to bring up England's hundred. Pietersen soon finished the game off in just the 13th over, with a four through the covers. He finished unbeaten on 30, Cook on 18.

Marcus Trescothick told pundit Michael Atherton after the game that the victory didn't make up for the Sharjah final defeat. The opener said, "It's a good start to the tournament but they (South Africa) are the ones with the medals and great memories of Sharjah. Hopefully come the end of the competition we'll have got something to take with us too."

The Somerset man was also pleased with his own and the team's form saying, "The boys are all playing pretty well at the moment, Hoggy in particular doing the business. I'm playing ok, timing it nicely, got to stop silly incidents like today's though!"

Thankfully those incidents did nothing to stop England's victory charge. A comfortable win, and a big confidence booster going into tomorrow's second game against the hosts.

 

[OrderDX]

great win for england hope they can carry on their good form

 

[plympilgrim]

this is great work freddie and in a nice style, keep it up

reps for effort and consistent good work

 

[flintoff]

MONTY UNHAPPY OVER EXCLUSION

England's Monty Panesar has revealed his disappointment at being continually overlooked by the selectors for this winter's tour. The comments come on the back of not being picked for England's second match of the South Africa tournament against the hosts.

Panesar said, "It's frustrating, I've was picked originally to do a job for the side, and I've not been given a chance to show what I can do."

Panesar wants to start

The 'Sikh of Tweak' has started only 1 match on the tour, against South Africa in the Pakistan tournament, and ended with disappointing figures of 0-37. However, the Northants spinner maintains he can be an attacking option in 20 over cricket.

Monty quipped, "People keep telling me that a spinners job is to keep the runs down in this form of cricket, but I don't agree. On a hard, dry surface I can get plenty of turn and bounce and cause batsmen problems. Gareth Batty showed that in the opening game of the tour."

England captain Paul Collingwood urged Panesar to be patient, as his time would come soon. Collingwood said, "Monty's a great player, and he's capable of taking lots of wickets for us. I think it's sometimes hard for a spinner to get into a rhythm with only 4 overs to bowl with, so you can see why he's been left out. He'll get his chance though."

England name an unchanged team from the one that defeated South Africa last time out.

England:- Trescothick, Strauss, Vaughan, Pietersen, Cook, Flintoff, Collingwood (c), Wagg, Jones (wk), Hoggard, Anderson.

 

[flintoff]

CLASSY ENGLAND SHOW THE WAY

ENGLAND 200/5 (20 OVERS) beat SOUTH AFRICA 126 ALL OUT (17.1 OVERS) by 74 runs

England recorded their second consecutive victory against South Africa in Johannesburg last night, with a comfortable win by 74 runs.

The home side won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision that surprised many given the pitch was relatively flat. Even England captain Paul Collingwood was perplexed saying after the game, "We'd have probably batted first, mainly because we like to set total's rather than chase them. It was a nice pitch to bat on, but there was a hint of grass so I suppose you can't blame Graeme (Smith)"

As usual Trescothick tried to set England off on the right foot, smacking a huge six over his favourite mid wicket area in the very first over. Once again Strauss went out early, being run out in a tight decision pushing for a second run. Not much is going for the Middlesex man at present.

Test captain Michael Vaughan looked in good touch, hitting 4's in all his favourite areas. There's no better sight than a cover drive from Vaughan, as he peppered the off side boundary. Trescothick was still hitting nicely off Pollock and it was a partnership of 56 between the two Englishman that set the tone for the innings.

Andre Nel's introduction in the 9th over yielded an instant wicket, Vaughan skying his first attempt at a lofted shot to mid on. He trudged off disgusted with himself, out for 24. Kevin Pietersen came to the crease and didn't hang around. A big six over square leg off just his 2nd ball, and when KP hits them, they stay hit. Trescothick reached his fifty with a back foot glance off Boje, but was soon out for 58 after a thin edge to the keeper off the left arm spinner.

Flintoff made his 3rd fifty of the tour

Cook poked around before not quite timing a slog sweep off Boje, and being caught at deep fine leg. Pietersen then lobbed a catch to Gibbs at midwicket, and suddenly England were not so cosy at 122/5 from 14 overs.

Flintoff took control, taking lots of two's interspersed with a couple of sixes off Nel. Collingwood was quiet at the other end and finished not out on 12. Freddie really opened up the last 4 overs, with England scoring 64 runs. The all-rounder reached his fifty in the penultimate over off just 27 balls. An excellent display of hitting, and he wowed the crowd further with a six off the last ball of the innings from Rudolph to finish 65 not out, allowing the away side to reach 200. Boje and Nel were the pick of the South African bowlers, both finishing with 2-29.

South Africa's reply started positively, with Dippenaar hitting 2 fours before lofting a drive to Wagg at cover. Then followed some good, economical bowling from England, the pressure and the run rate rising on South Africa. Hoggard was dangerous and got Smith who looped a delivery to Flintoff at mid on. Gibbs was then out for a duck going for a big shot and caught at long on. The Proteas toiling at 18/3.

Danger man Kallis arrived and hit a nice four past mid on to remind England not to get too confident. Collingwood came on in the 6th over and served up a wicket maiden, getting the crucial wicket of Kallis, who mistimed to cover. South Africa's hopes dead in the water.

De Villiers wasn't giving up, and his batting display was excellent, with 4's all around the wicket. Rudolph was quiet at the other end, and batted without urgency considering this was a run chase. He went in the 12th over, ran out for 10. Boucher came in, a man who likes to play his shots, and started a good partnership with De Villiers. He made 18 before hitting straight to the trap England had set him at deep backward point. All hope faded for South Africa when Wagg got De Villiers caught at deep cover for a well played 47. The home side 92/7 off 14 overs.

Collingwood bowls Ntini

Pollock and Boje then attacked, with Flintoff being a little expensive. Pollock mistimed a drive off Collingwood to depart for 19, and the captain then got his third wicket, bowling Ntini with an inswinging delivery. Nel scooped to midwicket off Wagg to complete the win.

Hoggard, Wagg and Collingwood will all have been pleased with their 3 wickets apiece, and England now look in good shape for a place in the final. It's Zimbabwe next on the agenda tomorrow night in Cape Town.

 

[flintoff]

BREAKING NEWS

ENGLAND TRIUMPH IN TIGHT CONTEST

An unbeaten 44 by Alastair Cook and a 5 wicket haul from Graham Wagg helped England to a 23 run victory against Zimbabwe in Cape Town tonight.

Chasing 186 to win, Zimbabwe lost their last 5 wickets for 33 runs to fall just short of their target. Captain Paul Collingwood was delighted with England's third consecutive win. He said, "It was a good, battling performance, especially from the bowlers who played really well under pressure."

England won the toss and batted on a decent all-round wicket in Cape Town. Trescothick made 32 including 3 sixes in one over off Streak, before he was caught by keeper Taibu. Strauss' bad form continued as he made just 7, out bowled to an inswinger from Streak.

Strauss goes out cheaply again

Vaughan and Pietersen shared a stand of 57 in the heart of the innings, both getting out caught from the bowling of Hondo for 27 and 34 respectively. After Flintoff was caught behind for 5 it was Cook and Collingwood that pushed England up towards their final total. Cook was in especially fine fettle, claiming plenty of runs through the off side. In the final overs, Wagg and Jones disappointed again with the bat as England finished on 185/8 at the end of their 20 overs.

Ebrahim and Marillier opened the batting for Zimbabwe and scored steadily, creating a partnership that lasted until the 9th over. Marillier caught on the cover boundary from the bowling of Collingwood for 33. However Zimbabwe were still in a good position at 64/1.

Two maidens in 3 overs from Flintoff then heaped the pressure on the opposition, with Wagg steadily taking wickets at the other end. The Derbyshire youngster always seems to cause problems with his line of attack and the Zimbabwe middle order had no answer to his varied bowling.

Darren Gough, a replacement for James Anderson in the England line-up also took two wickets as Zimbabwe stumbled to 125/7 off 15 overs. Wicketkeeper Taibu played well hitting 7 boundaries in his innings of 37, before Wagg took his wicket after mistiming a lofted drive to backward point. Wagg completed his 5 wicket haul taking the final scalp of Hondo, with Zimbabwe 24 runs short of victory, and with 12 balls remaining.

ENGLAND 185/8 (20 OVERS)
COOK............44
PIETERSEN......34

STREAK.........2-54
HONDO..........2-60

ZIMBABWE 162 ALL OUT (18.0 OVERS)
TAIBU...........37
MARILLIER......33

WAGG...........5-38
GOUGH..........2-30

ENGLAND WIN BY 23 RUNS

 

[Pakistani Army]

Wagg bowled very well and the batting was very very good. Great game nevertheless. Great works Flintoff. Loving the presentation and this story mate. Keep up the good works

 

[Highlander999]

Just read through and this is amazing. I'm surprised this has not got more recognition. KUTGW. Reps for your hard work