England?s Paul Nixon (left) tumbles over as Canada?s Anderson Cummins watches during their World Cup cricket match in Gros Islet yesterday. - REUTERS
GROS ISLET, St Lucia (Reuters):
England beat Canada by 51 runs in their World Cup Group C clash yesterday, but the game was overshadowed by the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer and Andrew Flintoff being dropped.
Ed Joyce hit 66 and Paul Collingwood an unbeaten 62 to help England to 279 for six and put their World Cup campaign back on track following defeat to New Zealand on Friday.
They now need to beat Kenya on Saturday to qualify for the next stage.
Canada, who lost their first match to Kenya on Wednesday, could only manage 228 for seven in reply, but it was their highest ever World Cup score and they never looked like being bowled out against a limp England attack.
England all-rounder Flintoff was omitted and stripped of the World Cup vice-captaincy after a late night drinking binge following Friday?s six-wicket defeat by New Zealand.
Flintoff was one of six players to be fined for the breach of team discipline, but James Anderson, Ian Bell, Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett remained in the side.
?With what?s happened over the last 48 hours, the victory was the most important thing,? captain Michael Vaughan told a news conference.
Joyce, who formerly played for Ireland and watched their victory over Pakistan on St Patrick?s Day on Saturday, was dropped twice, but came back into form after struggling so far in the West Indies.
He fell when he was bowled by spinner and fork-lift truck driver Sunil Dhaniram attempting an audacious reverse sweep.
Joyce had shared an opening partnership of 101 with Vaughan before the captain was caught at backward point by his opposite number John Davison off Abdool Samad for 45.
Stuttered the middle overs
England stuttered in the middle overs with 38-year-old Dhaniram picking up three quick wickets, including Kevin Pietersen caught and bowled for five, with only eight runs added.
All-rounder Ravi Bopara, making only his second One-Day International appearance as the replacement for Flintoff, looked composed at the crease before departing in a similarly embarrassing fashion to Joyce for 29.
Canada, who were labelled a village team by their captain after the Kenya game, at one stage threatened another huge World Cup shock 24 hours after Ireland?s win over Pakistan and Bangladesh?s defeat of India.
Ashif Mulla was the only Canadian to score a half century with 58, but two wickets each for Bopara and Plunkett kept Canada in check.
England?s final group game is against Kenya on Saturday with New Zealand first facing Kenya and Canada tomorrow and Thursday respectively. The top two will qualify for the Super Eights.
The seven-week long World Cup culminates in the Barbados final on April 28.
Flintoff sacked as vice-captain and dropped
Flintoff - Reuters
GROS ISLET, St Lucia (Reuters):
England?s Andrew Flintoff was sacked as World Cup vice-captain and dropped for their Group C game against Canada yesterday after a late-night drinking session.
However, team management decided against sending the 29-year-old all-rounder home after the incident on Friday night following their six-wicket defeat by New Zealand.
British newspapers had reported yesterday that Flintoff was seen inebriated in the small hours. Reports said he had to be rescued from the sea after falling off a pedalo.
?I know that what I did on Friday night was completely wrong and I have to take full responsibility for it,? Flintoff said in a statement.
?There can be no excuses on my part. I know I shouldn?t have done what I did and I have to accept the punishment.
?To my teammates and the England supporters that I let down, all I can say is that I am extremely sorry and assure everyone that I will be giving 110 per cent for England for the rest of this tournament.?
A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said five other players had also been fined for breaching discipline.
It added that this was not the first time that Flintoff, considered one of the world?s greatest all-rounders and a key figure in their famous 2005 Ashes win over Australia, had been involved in such an episode.
?GIVEN WARNINGS?
?Andrew Flintoff has been given warnings about his conduct and disciplined for previous incidents of this nature,? England head coach Duncan Fletcher was quoted as saying in the statement.
?In light of this and due to the serious nature of the incident which he was involved in at the hotel on Friday night, we have decided to take further disciplinary action against him.
?Andrew has been made fully aware of the team management?s concerns and the fact that the ECB considers this type of behaviour to be totally unacceptable.
?He will remain with the World Cup squad and be available for selection for our next match against Kenya.?
The others disciplined were James Anderson, Ian Bell, Jon Lewis, Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett, said the statement.
The ECB added that Flintoff would not be considered for the England captaincy should Michael Vaughan be injured at any stage during the tournament.
BIG DRINKER
Flintoff is known as a big drinker, but has shed weight and cut his drinking significantly in recent years.
However, he was famously hungover on the team?s open-top bus as England celebrated their 2005 Ashes win through the streets of London.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain slammed Flintoff?s behaviour.
?There is a history to this story. It is not the first time. In Australia he had three or four warnings about his drinking,? Hussain said on Sky Sports while commentating at the ground.
?Is that the best preparation to go out drinking till 3 am in this heat? I say well done England finally for having strong management.?
All-rounder Ravi Bopara replaced Flintoff in England?s line-up in the 51-run win over Canada.
England play Kenya on Saturday, March 24 in their final group match.
The seven-week World Cup culminates in the final on April 28 in Bridgetown, Barbados.
