Bygones: England can glean inspiration from Cup exploits of 2010

AFTER warm-up games against India tomorrow and the West Indies on Wednesday, England’s cricketers begin their Twenty20 World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Chittagong on Saturday.
England captain Paul Collingwood (centre) lifts their trophy as they celebrate winning the ICC World Twenty20 Final match at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.England captain Paul Collingwood (centre) lifts their trophy as they celebrate winning the ICC World Twenty20 Final match at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.
England captain Paul Collingwood (centre) lifts their trophy as they celebrate winning the ICC World Twenty20 Final match at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

It is the first of four fixtures ahead of the semi-finals, with England also facing Sri Lanka and South Africa, plus the winner of a qualifying group consisting of Zimbabwe, Ireland, UAE and the Netherlands.

It will be difficult enough for England to reach the last four – which they would do by finishing first or second in their group – let alone to win the competition.

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However, if they are seeking inspiration, they need look no further than their own class of 2010, which defied expectations by winning the tournament in West Indies – England’s first global one-day trophy.

England’s campaign four years ago began inauspiciously.

Rain affected both their opening games in Guyana after they were pitted in a three-team group with the West Indies and Ireland.

In the first match against the the West Indies, England were unlucky to lose by eight wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method after the hosts chased 60 in six overs following England’s imposing 191-5.

Against Ireland, England managed only a mediocre 120-8, their opponents responding with 14-1 before the rain came to see England through to the Super Eights at Ireland’s expense by virtue of a better net run-rate.

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From there on, England were outstanding. They topped their Super Eights group with three wins out of three as Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand were ruthlessly put to the sword.

Pakistan were beaten by six wickets with three balls to spare after batting first and posting 
147-9, the now disgraced Salman Butt top-scoring with 34.

Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad and Michael Yardy each took two wickets, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann capturing one apiece.

In reply, Kevin Pietersen – remember him? – led the team home with an unbeaten 73 from 52 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

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Next up, England beat South Africa by 39 runs, Pietersen again top-scoring with 53 as England made 168-7 batting first, Craig Kieswetter contributing a powerful 41.

In reply, South Africa lost regular wickets and were bundled out for 129, JP Duminy leading the way with 39 as Sidebottom and Graeme Swann each took three wickets.

Against New Zealand, England chased 150 to win by three wickets with five balls to spare, Eoin Morgan striking 40 and Bresnan an unbeaten 23 from 11 balls to take the team home.

England then crushed Sri Lanka in the semi-final, restricting their opponents to 128-6 before cruising to victory by seven wickets with an impressive four overs to spare.

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There was a near-identical outcome in the final in Barbados as England also beat Australia by seven wickets – only this time with three overs to spare.

David Hussey top-scored with 59 as Australia made 147-6, Sidebottom the most successful bowler with 2-26.

Kieswetter (63) and Pietersen (47) underpinned England’s reply, sealed when captain Paul Collingwood hit the winning runs with a six and a four to spark wild celebrations among England’s jubilant players and supporters.