Cricket: Collingwood Praises Bowlers

Paul Collingwood, leading England for the first time in a full one-day international, gave the credit to his fast bowlers as he celebrated victory over West Indies by 79 runs. England scored only 225 but then bowled out West Indies for 146 in the first game of the three-match NatWest series.

Collingwood said: "The bowlers were magnificent. They put the ball in the right areas and put the West Indies under pressure. We discussed going out there with a Twenty20 attitude and taking the game to them from ball one and that is what we did. We took the same intensity we had in those Twenty20 games.

"Jimmy [Anderson] started off really well and then Liam Plunkett, and then Broady [Stuart Broad] was exceptional. I asked them to be aggressive and put the ball in the good Lord's areas. But while Shiv Chanderpaul was there it felt really tense. When Chanderpaul is still around it's a horrible feeling."

As for the batting he said: "The boys went out there and adapted well and the boys got a good total on the board," he said. "What I liked today was our aggression, going out after the rain delay. It didn't come off today." He added: "We've put a lot of hard work in this past week and a half and hopefully it continues."

His opposite number, Chris Gayle, was also happy with his side's performance with the ball but lamented their batting. He said: "The way we batted it wasn't the best." Gayle said moving Chanderpaul, who finished 53 not out, up the order would be discussed. "We've got to discuss it and see what will come of it," he said. Of his side's bowling, Gayle added: "The guys were tremendous and utilized conditions well. These things we take as positives going on to the next game."