Collingwood acknowledges rain helped

Paul Collingwood
12 April 2012

England captain Paul Collingwood had cause to be grateful for rain as his side advanced to the ICC World Twenty20 Super Eight stage after a no-result to their Group D shoot-out with Ireland.

England could only reach 120 for eight on a difficult pitch, after being put in to bat at the Guyana National Stadium but Ireland's reply was halted twice as they reached 14 for one from 3.3 overs and when the 5pm local time cut-off arrived, with five overs of their innings yet to be completed, a no-result was declared.

That meant England progressed alongside group winners West Indies on a superior run rate having hit 191 for five against the hosts, and Collingwood said after Tuesday's match: "I guess the rain's come around today at a time that's got us through to the next stage."

He added: "It didn't help us yesterday but today I guess it's helped us a little bit."

Collingwood said he had been satisfied with the target his side had set Ireland.

"We were pretty confident once we got up to 120. I think it was a 130 wicket and you'd have been really happy with that; 140 and you'd have been really confident of protecting that score.

"It could have got quite close today. There was certainly a bit of turn out there and it was seaming around as well and a lot different to the wicket we played on the other day."

Collingwood also praised Dublin-born England batsman Eoin Morgan who top-scored against his native country with 45 from 37, a day after hitting 55 from 35 against West Indies.

"He's a very versatile player. He's got the power, he can play all the shots but he's also got a good mind and that's what you need in the middle order.

"You've got to adjust to the situation, and he seems to be reading it pretty well."

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