Colly hails record win

Collingwood: Delighted with win

I'm delighted in the response of the dressing room and the bowlers as a unit are doing fantastically well.

Paul Collingwood
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England captain Paul Collingwood paid tribute to attitude of his players after they thrashed Pakistan to claim a record-equalling seventh straight Twenty20 international win.

The tourists' woes continued as they bowled out for only 89 in Cardiff, with England needing only 14 overs to chase the target down and claim a six-wicket victory.

The result ensured England swept the two-match series to add to the Test series they wrapped up at the end of August.

And the landmark run of 20-over victories, which started during England's triumphant ICC World Twenty20 campaign earlier in the year, has delighted Collingwood.

"It's a special achievement and we obviously did it during the best time which was during the World Cup," he told Sky Sports after the match.

Form

"To continue with that form, even though we've lost a couple of players, I'm delighted in the response of the dressing room and the bowlers as a unit are doing fantastically well.

"I think in the last seven games they haven't conceded over 148 runs which is fantastic in the Twenty20 format.

"We are just doing a lot of things really good - and we still have a lot of intent with the bat as well. Hopefully that continues into the future."

He added: "In this form of the game it can be tough to win consecutively. It just takes one performance from the opposition to take it away from you.

"To have that World Cup, you can have added pressure on you as well. But the way we've played over the last two games, the boys are enjoying that added pressure.

Collingwood singled out his side's bowlers for special praise after their potency was once again evident on Tuesday. Tim Bresnan claimed figures of 3-10 with Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom and Graeme Swann also chipping in with two wickets each.

Delighted

"It was exceptional again. I'm absolutely delighted with what was another strong performance," Collingwood said.

"I'm going to sound like a broken record but the bowlers again adapted to the conditions very well.

"It's the same wickets (as the first game) but there was a slightly different pace to it and they adjusted their lengths to it, bowled a few cross-seams and it kissed the surface well."

The defeat marked the latest in a string of dismal Pakistan performances, who had commenced their summer tour of England in promising fashion with two T20 victories against Australia.

Their camp has also been disrupted by well-publicised allegations of 'spot fixing' and Shahid Afridi stressed the importance of regaining focus ahead of the upcoming five-match one-day series with England.

Afridi said: "We are coming through a bad situation, but as professionals we should take that from our mind and focus on our cricket.

"They (the fans) should support us and one day we'll give them a good result. I have learned a lot of things from this England side. They're very united - that's what we are lacking.

"There is more pressure for us coming around the corner. We just need one win at this stage."