England trounce Bermuda in WC warm-up match

KINGSTOWN: Jon Lewis took three wickets to help England skittle out Bermuda for 45 to win by 241 runs in their first World Cup warm-up match on Monday.   

England used the 13-player-a-side format to employ all five of their pace bowlers and spinner Monty Panesar but their workout only lasted 22.2 overs because of the minor cricket nation's abject batting.   

Lewis and James Anderson at least proved their fitness after picking up ankle and back injuries respectively during England's victorious tri-series campaign in Australia.   

Lewis trapped Kwame Tucker lbw with his first ball, removed Clay Smith for nought and then bowled Saleem Mukuddem when the Bermudan left a straight delivery. Anderson bagged two for eight and Andrew Flintoff two for three off 2.2 overs.   

Bermuda, who will be making their first appearance in a World Cup, started brightly with 21-stone Bermudan policeman Dwayne Leverock weighing in with the dismissals of Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen in England's 286 for eight.   

Jamie Dalrymple top-scored with 76 to steady the innings after England had been 132 for five.       

England captain Michael Vaughan, plagued by knee and hamstring problems, looked in good touch during his short innings of 18 but strapping was applied to his leg following his dismissal.   

The 32-year-old, who has been working his way back to full fitness, took to the field however for a short spell and showed no discomfort before heading back to the dressing room.   

As expected, England omitted out-of-form Andrew Strauss to accommodate the returning Pietersen at number four.   

Big-hitter Pietersen, who broke his rib in the first tri-series match with Australia in January, was unusually reserved after some good bowling from 17-year-old Malachi Jones and Leverock.   

He then took two smart catches and spilled one as England cantered to victory. The stands at St. Vincent's Arnos Vale ground were surprisingly empty given the World Cup fever which has gripped the island. School children have been given the week off and some were in attendance.   

England, who face Australia in a final warm-up on Friday, play New Zealand in their first World Cup group match on March 16. Bermuda's first group match is against Sri Lanka the day before.

Scorecard

England Innings

Ed Joyce b Hurdle 7
Matthew Vaughan c Hemp b Hurdle 18
Ian Bell c Romaine b Jones 46
Kevin Pietersen st Minors b Leverock 43
Paul Collingwood c Minors b Leverock 7
Andrew Flintoff c Pitcher b Borden 24
Jamie Dalrymple c Pitcher b Borden 76
Paul Nixon c Hurdle b Borden 17
Liam Plunkett not out 10
Sajid Mahmood not out 15

Extras: (4b, 5lb, 11w, 3nb) 23
Total: (for eight wickets in 50 overs) 286

Fall of wickets: 14 1, 41 2, 112 3, 129 4, 132 5, 186 6, 252 7, 26 1 8

Bowling: Kevin Hurdle 10 0 58 2 (3nb, 1w), Saleem Mukeddem 10 0 56 0 (3w), Malachi Jones 10 0 60 1, Dwayne Leverock 10 0 32 2, Deloyne Borden 10 0 71 3 (3w)

Bermuda Innings

Dean Minors c Pietersen b Plunkett 5
Oliver Pitcher c Lewis b Anderson 2
Kwame Tucker lbw b Lewis 2
Stephen Outerbridge c Pietersen b Anderson 7
David Hemp c Anderson b Flintoff 11
Clay Smith c Nixon b Lewis 0
Saleem Mukeddem b Lewis 0
Lionel Cann b Mahmood 5
Deloyne Borden not out 3
Malachi Jones c Anderson b Panesar
Kevin Hurdle c Anderson b Flintoff 0

Extras: 8 (3lb, 4w, 1nb)
Total: (all out in 22.2 overs) 45

Fall of wickets: 13 1, 15 2, 23 3, 24 4, 28 5, 32 6, 38 7, 42 8, 44 9, 45 10

Bowling: James Anderson, 5 1 8 2 (1nb, 2w), Liam Plunkett 5 1 13 1 (1w), Jon Lewis 4 2 7 3, Sajid Mahmood 4 0 10 1 (1w), Andrew Flintoff 2.2 0 3 2, Monty Panesar 2 1 1 1