Vaughan, Collingwood hit half-centuries in second one-dayer

Cuttack, India, January 22: England middle-order batsmen Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood slammed impressive half-centuries in the second one-day international against India here on Tuesday.

Collingwood scored an unbeaten 71 and Vaughan 63 as England posted 250-7 off 50 overs after being put in to bat at the Barabati Stadium.

Vaughan was involved in a 69-run stand for the third wicket with skipper Nasser Hussain, who compiled a 54-ball 46 with four boundaries.

Collingwood then held the innings together with his third half-century in nine matches after three wickets, including that of Vaughan, had fallen for 17 runs in the closing overs.

Vaughan was run out after hitting five fours in his 80-ball knock, his first half-century in eight matches.

Collingwood played some attractive shots in the end, swinging Sachin Tendulkar over square-leg for the first six of the match. Fielder Harbhajan held the ball, but crossed the boundary-line in the process.

Collingwood, who put on 51 for the seventh wicket with Jeremy Snape (22), also hit one more six and three fours in his 78-ball knock.

Vaughan and Hussain put England on course for a respectable total with their sensible batting after the dismissals of openers Marcus Trescothick and Nick Knight.

England suffered a big blow in the sixth over when in-form Trescothick (13) was caught pulling by Dinesh Mongia at square-leg off seamer Ajit Agarkar.

Trescothick, who smashed a quickfire 121 in the previous game, looked in fine form as he struck paceman Javagal Srinath for two successive fours.

Knight (14) also failed to control his pull-shot as he was caught by Harbhajan Singh at deep square-leg off Srinath, playing his 200th one-dayer.

Vaughan and Hussain then steadied the innings as they rotated the strike intelligently to keep pressure on the Indian fielders.

India retained the team that won the first one-dayer by 22 runs at Calcutta on Saturday.

England made one change, including Ben Hollioake in place of left-arm spinner Ahsley Giles.