February 04, 2008	Monday	Muharram 25, 1429

CHRISTCHURCH (New Zealand), Feb 3: Alastair Cook blasted an unbeaten century as England cruised to an easy seven-wicket victory over Canterbury in the second match of their tour of New Zealand on Sunday.

Cook thumped 138 not out from 140 balls to steer England to victory with more than seven overs to spare at the Village Green ground.

England opened their tour with a comfortable win over Canterbury at the same venue on Saturday and the victories will have given them confidence ahead of this week’s two Twenty20 matches against New Zealand.

England restricted Canterbury to 218 for nine from their 50 overs. One-day captain Paul Collingwood was the best of the English bowlers, capturing three wickets.

Former New Zealand Test opener Michael Papps was the top-scorer with 89 off 128 balls while skipper Kruger van Wyk made an unbeaten 53.

England had no troubles reaching their target as Cook followed up his half-century on Saturday with an entertaining hundred that featured 20 boundaries and two sixes.

Scoreboard

CANTERBURY:

I.A. Robertson c Shah b Anderson 28

M.H.W. Papps c Anderson b Wright 89

J.G. Myburgh c Mustard b Tremlett 10

P.G. Fulton c and b Collingwood 7

C.Z. Harris b Collingwood 0

S.L. Stewart c Tremlett b Collingwood 8

C.F.K. van Wyk not out 53

B.C. Hiini b Wright 7

T.D. Astle c Broad b Anderson 5

R.D. Burson b Wright 0

L.M. Burtt not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-2, NB-2) 10

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 218

FALL OF WKTS: 1-42, 2-65, 3-90, 4-90, 5-104, 6-196, 7-205, 8-214, 9-216.

DID NOT BAT: A.M. Ellis, H.K. Bennett.

BOWLING: Anderson 10-0-39-2 (1w); Broad 6-0-38-0 (1nb); Tremlett 8-2-30-1 (1nb); Wright 7.1-0-31-3; Collingwood 5-1-15-3 (1w); Mascarenhas 7.5-0-34-0; Swann 6-1-25-0.

ENGLAND:

A.N. Cook not out 138

P. Mustard b Burtt 11

K.P. Pietersen c van Wyk b Bennett 10

P.D. Collingwood c Fulton b Astle 40

O.A. Shah not out 20

EXTRAS (W-1) 1

TOTAL (for three wkts, 42.5 overs) 220

FALL OF WKTS: 1-35, 2-70, 3-159.

DID NOT BAT: R.S. Bopara, L.J. Wright, A.D. Mascarenhas, S.C.J. Broad, G.P. Swann, C.T. Tremlett, J.M. Anderson.

BOWLING: Burtt 8-0-31-1; Burson 6.5-0-38-0; Bennett 8-1-34-1 (1w); Hiini 7-0-39-0; Harris 7-0-38-0; Astle 5-0-30-1; Robertson 1-0-10-0.

RESULT: England won by seven wickets.

UMPIRES: G.A. Baxter and A.L. Hill.

NOTE: Players per side (Canterbury 13 – 11 bat and field; England 12 – 11 bat and field).—Agencies