Anderson transforms England's outlook

England 246-8 Pakistan 134 England won by 112 runs

The World Cup has waited a long time for England to join the party. For a fortnight they stood on the outside looking in and pulling faces, indulging in political stand-offs and making easy games hard. The rest of the world was growing weary with these spoilsport antics.

Well, yesterday they stepped over the threshold, turned up the music and started dancing. They took their time about it, which was understandable for such hesitant guests. But when they got the feel of the place they were having a high old time. The result was that England won by 112 runs. They made 246 for 9, Pakistan responded with an insipid 134 all out in 31 overs. It was, in short, a rout, which a defiant last-wicket stand could not conceal.

Pakistan were left with only one pyrrhic consolation. Their speed merchant, Shoaib Akhtar, bowled one ball at 100.2mph, the fastest ever recorded in any class of cricket. But it was a fleeting moment in every sense.

Nasser Hussain's team now have realistic aspirations of progressing to the next stage of this tournament, known as the Super Sixes. It is important not to think beyond that. Previous England teams, nay all England teams, have been burdened by the weight of unrealistic expectation. India still have to be beaten on Wednesday and will be no pushovers. Australia lie in wait after that. Nasser Hussain's side must enjoy the moment but avoid getting too frisky.

There were two exemplary performances in this victory. The first, one of remarkable calmness amid unnecessary panic, was by Paul Collingwood. If England are an unsung one-day side he is barely spoken of in a whisper. But he rebuilt an innings which was foundering at 110 for 4 when he entered and became 118 for 5 shortly after. He made a crucial 66 not out.

The second, perhaps more heartening not only for this tournament but for the future, was by James Anderson. He is 20 and from Burnley in Lancashire, but in truth he has come from nowhere, like stars do. Building skilfully on Collingwood's platform, he took four wickets for 29 in 10 overs.

It was a supreme piece of craftsmanship by a boy who is still an apprentice. Anderson swung it and seamed it accurately. Two of his quartet came in consecutive balls, and the second of that duet is a candidate for being the ball of the tournament. It was his second four-wicket analysis in a week and he was man of the match.

The toss was deemed crucial. Win it and the match was there for the taking, lose it and if not quite bag-packing time, it was certainly reason for buying going- home presents for the family. Too much can be made of these kinds of precedents, but they eat at the souls of cricketers whatever they might proclaim in public. The facts spoke for themselves: of 16 day-night games played in Cape Town, 12 had been won by the side batting first, including five of the last six until Canada broke the run last week.

The early attention was on Wasim Akram, who had regained his form, and Marcus Trescothick, who had lost his. If Trescothick could see off the early threat from the finest old master since Rembrandt he could go on to play the sort of match-winning innings most of the spectators appeared to be demanding. But it was a mismatch. Rembrandt was playing Etch-A-Sketch. Akram's second over was as clinical as it was artistic. Trescothick edged the last ball behind.

England's plight might have become worse almost immediately when Michael Vaughan attempted to hook Akram from his first ball. It was a foolish stroke, but Vaughan, as well as being a marvellously gifted batsman, is a lucky one. The top- edge was safely taken by square leg but the call of no ball was already being made. Vaughan got the message which this piece of good fortune conveyed: play yourself in, young man. But the tone of the innings had already been set. No sooner had a partnership seemingly become established than it was broken. Pakistan took a wicket after a bowling change on four occasions, but such apparently inspirational captaincy by Waqar Younis was aided by some poor batting.

Nick Knight had comfortably handled the initial onslaught, nonchalantly playing a forward prop to the Akhtar speed- gun-buster. Unfortunately, his first characteristic sashay down the pitch resulted in a catch to mid-off. Hussain tried to cut a ball much too close for the purpose and was caught at slip, and Vaughan slashed overconfidently to point immediately after reaching his handsomely endowed 50 (as has been observed before, he doesn't do ugly) and stood his ground a shade too long.

So the litany of error continued. Alec Stewart had been playing astutely until he played across the line of Shahid Afridi's leg-spin. Andrew Flintoff was another who got in, only to be stumped playing a forward-defensive prop a yard out of his crease. Amid all this Collingwood defended his wicket and gathered runs unfussily. It has been noticeable all winter that even in the bad times, Collingwood has remained a vibrant personality. He hit only four fours yet his 66 took just 73 balls. There were 33 singles. This is the mark of a calm player. Protect your wicket by playing no unnecessary big shots but also keep the board ticking over.

Ashley Giles hit the fastest man in the world for six over long-off, and although it was the slower ball it will not spoil his telling of the story to his grandchildren. England's total, in the old northern phrase, seemed to be neither nowt nor summat. It might be enough, but then again it might not. It was enough all right.

Andrew Caddick took the first wicket but Anderson took four of the next five. He had Inzamam-ul-Haq caught at third slip with one that seamed away just enough, and then delivered a ripsnorter to Yousuf Youhana: a swinging yorker.

There was to be no revival. Everything England did proved to be right. Flintoff struck in his first over, Craig White, replacing Anderson, with his first ball. Pakistan were 80 for 9 until Akhtar made 43 from 16 balls. But the game was long since done. England did a lap of honour before a partisan crowd. Maybe it was a touch premature, but it was out of relief as much as thanks. If they are doing one at the Wanderers on 23 March they will have done something truly special.

Cape Town Scoreboard

England won toss

England
M E Trescothick c Rashid Latif b Wasim Akram 1
N V Knight c Abdul Razzaq b Waqar Younis 15
M P Vaughan c Younis Khan b Shoaib Akhtar 52
N Hussain c Rashid Latif b Waqar Younis 8
A J Stewart b Shahid Afridi 30
P D Collingwood not out 66
A Flintoff st Rashid Latif b Saqlain Musthaq 26
C White c Younis Khan b Shahid Afridi 15
A F Giles c Shahid Afridi b Saqlain Mushtaq 17
A R Caddick not out 3
Extras (lb1, w7, nb5) 13
Total (for 8, 218 min, 50 overs) 246

Fall: 1-7 (Trescothick); 2-45 (Knight), 3-59 (Hussain), 4-110 (Vaughan), 5-118 (Stewart), 6-160 (Flintoff), 7-194 (White), 8-223 (Giles)

Did not bat: J M Anderson.

Bowling: Wasim Akram 10-1-37-1 (nb3, w3) (6-1-17-1 2-0-8-0 2-0-12-0), Shoaib Akhtar 9-1-63-1 (nb1, w3) (4-1-28-0 2-0-14-1 2-0-12-0 1-0-9-0), Waqar Younis 7-0-37-2 (one spell), Saqlain Mushtaq 10-0-44-2 (6-0-27-0 2-0-9-1 2-0-8-1), Shahid Afridi 8-0-36-2 (5-0-25-1 3-0-11-1), Abdul Razzaq 6-0-28-0 (nb1, w1) (one spell).

Progress: 50: 53 min, 70 balls. 15 overs score: 64-3. 100: 97 min, 133 balls. 150: 141 min, 196 balls. 150: 141 min, 196 balls. 200: 187 min, 259 balls.

Vaughan 50: 89 min, 61 balls, 7 fours. Collingwood 50: 101 min, 59 balls, 3 fours.

Pakistan
Saeed Anwar lbw b Anderson 29
Shahid Afridi c Stewart b Caddick 6
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Knight b Anderson 0
Yousuf Youhana b Anderson 0
Younis Khan c Stewart b Flintoff 5
Abdul Razzaq b White 11
Rashid Latif c Stewart b Anderson 0
Wasim Akram c Giles b White 7
Saqlain Mushtaq not out 12
Waqar Younis c Knight b White 2
Shoaib Akhtar b Flintoff 43
Extras (b4, lb4, w11) 19
Total (142 min, 31 overs) 134

Fall: 1-13 (Shahid Afridi), 2-17 (Inzaman-ul-Haq), 3-17 (Yousuf Youhana), 4-53 (Younis Khan), 5-59 (Saeed Anwar), 6-59 (Rashid Latif), 7-71 (Abdul Razzaq), 8-78 (Wasim Akram), 9-80 (Waqar Younis), 10-134 (Shoaib Akhtar)

Bowling: Bowling: Caddick 7-0-27-1 (w4), Anderson 10-2-29-4 (w3), Flintoff 9-2-37-2 (w4), White 5-0-33-3 (one spell each).

Progress: 50: 57 min, 76 balls. 15 overs score: 53-4. 100: 133 min, 175 balls.

Result: England won by 112 runs.

Umpires: B G Jerling and R E Koertzen. TV Umpire: S A Bucknor.

Match referee: M J Procter.