Collingwood hails winning team

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Captain Paul Collingwood admitted he could sound "like a broken record" after hailing another devastating display by England's Twenty20 bowling attack.

The Twenty20 world champions completed an emphatic 2-0 series triumph against Pakistan in Cardiff last night, dismissing the hapless visitors for just 89 and then reaching their target with six wickets and six overs in hand.

It was Pakistan's lowest total in Twenty20 cricket, and they now head to Durham for the start of a one-day, 50-over series against England which has further humiliation stamped all over it.

England though, are in no mood to start offering sympathy for Pakistan's plight as the tourists continue playing like a team haunted by the spot-fixing crisis that has crippled international cricket.

"In this form of the game it can be tough to win consecutively," said Collingwood, who top-scored with 21 as England cruised home in front of a two-thirds' empty SWALEC Stadium.

"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.

"It's a special achievement, and we obviously did it during the best time - which was during the World Cup.

"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 more than 148 runs, which is fantastic in the Twenty20 format.

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

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

Pakistan never recovered from slumping to 22 for four after winning the toss and batting, as seamers Tim Bresnan (three for 10) and Stuart Broad (two for 18) did much of the damage before some typically tight bowling by England's immaculate spinners Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy.

It all left Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi in no mood to offer excuses.

"We were very bad, inexperienced and immature. I thought we played very bad cricket," he said.

"We are not enjoying ourselves in the field - we need to forget everything, I know it's difficult, but we should be professional cricketers and focus on cricket.

"I said England are united because they are winning continually, and victory brings unity to the team.

"At this stage I know our morale is very down, but one victory and it will be very high. We are just trying to find victory at this stage.

"It will be a big challenge to compete in the one-dayers, but we have some time, and me, my coach and the team, we will sit together and talk."