Irish honour intact after battling display

BRAVE Ireland went down to England yesterday as Paul Collingwood delivered a match-winning performance to prevent England from suffering embarrassment and get their Super Eights campaign underway.

England’s World Cup challenge has already suffered its share of humiliations. But defeat to Ireland’s mixture of part-timers, was only averted after another stunning display from Durham all-rounder Collingwood, whose crucial contribution sealed a 48-run victory.

Collingwood hammered 90 off only 82 balls to propel his side to a challenging 266 for seven.