England secure much-needed victory

England shrugged off a weekend of late nights, disciplinary action and recriminations to get their World Cup campaign back on track with a workmanlike victory over Canada.

Needing victory to ensure they remained on course for the Super Eight stage of the tournament, England's preparations could not have been worse with a convincing opening defeat by New Zealand followed by six players being disciplined for staying out in a nightclub until the early hours of on Saturday morning.

Put into bat again after captain Michael Vaughan again lost the toss, England made a competitive 279 for six with Ed Joyce and Paul Collingwood hitting half-centuries - Canada were restricted to 228 for seven in reply.

Unlike Friday's mauling by New Zealand, this time England enjoyed a solid start with captain Michael Vaughan and Ed Joyce forging a 101-run opening stand spanning 20 overs which should have enabled England to hit a massive total.

But once Vaughan missed out on a major opportunity to register his maiden one-day international century, cutting medium-pacer Abdool Samad straight to point just five runs short of his half-century, England lost their momentum and composure.

Canada's collection of part-timers got off to a flying start to their reply despite losing three wickets inside the first 10 overs of their reply, Liam Plunkett grabbing two of the early wickets.

Opener Geoff Barnett misjudged a full-length delivery which nipped back and clipped his off-stump as he shouldered arms and Ashish Bagai was caught at backward point attempting to cut a short ball.

Lancashire seamer James Anderson also removed John Davison - scorer of a 67-ball century against West Indies at the previous World Cup.

It was not until Ashif Mulla and Abdool Samad combined in a 96-run stand that Canada recovered from their shaky start.

Mulla impressively hit 56 off 57 balls, including seven fours and a six, but fell to newcomer Ravi Bopara after being tempted out of his crease - allowing Paul Nixon to complete a stumping.

Samad fell in the next over, given leg before to left-arm spinner Monty Panesar and despite a determined 30 from Dhaniram, Canada's challenge faded.