Cook provides food for thought

3 February 2008

Alastair Cook impresses at the top of the order © Getty Images

Alastair Cook forced his way into England's plans for next week's Twenty20 internationals with a superbly-timed century to secure victory in the final warm-up match against Canterbury.

The Essex left-hander began the tour to New Zealand expecting to be down the pecking order for the two Twenty20 matches in Auckland and Christchurch behind more aggressive strokemakers in the squad.

But he produced a superb innings of 51 off 66 balls during Saturday's victory and followed that up with an unbeaten 138 against the same opposition in Christchurch to help the tourists complete a seven-wicket triumph with 7.1 overs remaining.

Cook hit 20 fours and two sixes in his 140-ball innings and proved the mainstay of England's reply after Canterbury reached a respectable 218 for nine thanks to Michael Papps' 89 off 127 balls.

Cook again dominated the opening partnership with Durham wicketkeeper Phil Mustard, who was bowled for 11 attempting to slog seamer Leighton Burtt, while Kevin Pietersen was caught behind for 10.

Captain Paul Collingwood contributed 40 to an 89-run stand with Cook before being caught in the deep off leg-spinner Todd Astle.

But Cook kept his composure to steer England home and put himself firmly in the frame for Tuesday's Twenty20 opener at Eden Park as the tourists completed successive warm-up victories over Canterbury.

The two sides reduced the number of players per side from 13 to 12 with England deciding to rest Ian Bell, who top-scored with 79 in the first game, and Ryan Sidebottom, giving Hampshire seamer Chris Tremlett his first run-out of the tour.

Luke Wright claimed three wickets late on © Getty Images

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But it was Lancashire seamer James Anderson, who claimed five wickets on Saturday, who made the first breakthrough by tempting opener Iain Robertson into driving to Owais Shah at mid-off.

Tremlett followed that up by inducing Johann Myburgh into edging behind and wicketkeeper Phil Mustard took a fine diving catch to his right.

Collingwood provided England`s momentum, however, by claiming two wickets with successive balls, firstly removing Peter Fulton with a smart return catch.

Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Harris fell to the next delivery when he played on. and two overs later the England captain claimed a third scalp when Shahan Stewart drove tamely to Tremlett at mid-on.

Just as England thought they may restrict Canterbury to a less challenging total, Papps teamed up with wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk to share a frustrating 92-run stand.

With Papps in sight of a deserved century, however, he holed out to Anderson at deep mid-wicket, having hit eight fours and a six in his 127-ball innings, and give Luke Wright his first England wicket.

He followed that first scalp with a second when Brandon Hiini was bowled in his next over and finished with impressive figures of 3-35, although an unbeaten 53 off 58 balls from van Wyk guided Canterbury to a respectable total.