All-rounder hails 'special' England

South Africa crushed by seven wickets in second one-dayer

Last updated: 22nd November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

All-rounder hails 'special' England

Collingwood: all-round heroics

I thought the team put in a fantastic performance today. We were quite comfortable in the end.

Paul Collingwood
Quotes of the week

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Paul Collingwood was delighted after producing a man-of-the-match display in England's seven-wicket victory over South Africa on Sunday.

Collingwood claimed 2-24 with the ball and hauled in a brilliant catch at backward point to dismiss AB de Villiers as South Africa were restricted to 250-9 in the second one-day international at Centurion.

The Durham all-rounder, who was making his 171st one-day appearance to overtake Alec Stewart as his country's most capped player in the format, then hit 105 not out to lead England home with 24 balls to spare.

"It was a big day for me on a personal note," Collingwood told Sky Sports.

"I thought the team put in a fantastic performance today. We were quite comfortable in the end.

"The wicket played really well throughout the day and it was a special performance by all the boys really."

Trott impact

The foundation of England's run chase was laid during a 162-run, third-wicket partnership between Jonathan Trott and Collingwood.

Trott, preferred to Joe Denly at the top of the order, fell for 87 with the winning line in sight.

"(It was a) top knock by Trotty," Collingwood said. "He really played the anchor role.

"Credit to him, all the international innings he's played so far have been pecial ones and hopefully that continues."

England captain Andrew Strauss paid tribute to the efforts of both Trott and Collingwood.

"Jonathan Trott and Paul Collingwood both played exceptionally well," Strauss said.

"We always felt 250 was chaseable but we needed to get stuck in and get a partnership.

"It was a good performance from us and hopefully we can take this on to Newlands on Friday."

England lead the five-match series 1-0, the first game was washed out, but Strauss admits there is one particular area of concern for his side ahead of the third instalment in Cape Town next Friday.

The tourists dropped five catches in the field, including three from the skipper himself.

"That was the one negative," Strauss conceded.

"My hands went missing somewhere. I'll have to do some practice over the week."

Gutsy

Strauss' opposite number Graeme Smith paid tribute to Collingwood and gave credit to England.

"He's one of those players you'd love to have in your side," said the South Africa captain.

"He gives you 100 percent each time he walks out; he's a gutsy cricketer with a good character about him - and it's a credit to him that he's become England's most capped cricketer.

"He's played superbly well - and his experience really shone through."

As for his own team's performance, Smith added: "I think we were probably at least 30 runs short - and England played well with bat and ball today.

"We could definitely have got to 280 but had a couple of soft dismissals every time we started to get momentum - so that was a bit disappointing."