http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Cook-c1026’s century sets up England win – Cricket News Update
England has gone up 2-0 in the ongoing ODI series against Pakistan with two matches left to play. The English successfully defended a total of 250 runs in the second ODI played at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imtiaz-Sheikh-c64290 Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, February 15.
Alastair Cook, English skipper, once again led from the front. The left-hander scored his second consecutive century of the series; as England went on to win the match by 20 runs. Cook was awarded the man of the match honours for his knock of 102 runs from
just 121 deliveries.
Delighted with the win and the part he played in achieving that, Cook said, “I am thrilled with my own contribution. It was a slightly different wicket. Slightly slower and harder to time the ball. 250 was a very good total to defend. The fielding was outstanding
today.”
England, after losing the Test series 3-0, has bounced back strongly, winning the opening two fixtures of the four match ODI series. With the win at Abu Dhabi, England cannot lose the series and the worst case scenario is a draw series, if http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 can win
the remaining matches.
Cook wants his team to concentrate on the next game which will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, February 18. England can seal the series with a victory in that game.
The English are taking one game at a time and are not worried about clean sweeping Pakistan in the series. Cook said, “It was a real team effort and we will hope to win the series in Dubai. We have not thought about 4-0 but we want to do well in Dubai. The
start by our bowlers was superb. We did not get flustered when the partnership was going on between Misbah and Afridi.”
Cook was appointed the England captain after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964 resigned from the post in 2011. The 27-year-old has led England to 11 wins from 20 matches since taking charge. Cook enjoys the captaincy role and his performances are better when he is leading
the side. The left-hander averages 55.27 with the bat when he is captain as opposed to 30.52 when he is not.
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