England v Pakistan

At Cape Town, February 22, 2003 (day/night).
England won by 112 runs. Toss: England.

This was England's most heartening World Cup performance for more than a decade. They had to win - defeat would have left them only a glimmer of making the Super Six - and thanks to a precocious display of controlled swing by Anderson they did. Many thought the toss decided the game by forcing Pakistan to bat on a dewy evening. But Anderson's bowling was exceptional. In any case, it was Pakistan who dominated the early stages. Vaughan, caught off his first delivery, a no-ball, reeled off a sparkling if frantic fifty, but at 118 for five England were clinging on by a fingernail. Then Collingwood, putting placement before power and turning ones into twos, marshalled the lower order so adroitly that England scampered 246. To all intents and purposes, Anderson's second over settled matters: Inzamam-ul-Haq sliced an out-swinger to slip, and Yousuf Youhana also went first ball, castled by an impeccable swinging yorker. Another two-wicket Anderson over - the 18th - made doubly sure: Saeed Anwar shuffled in front, Rashid Latif gloved a lifter and a star had been born. Pakistan's impotence was symbolised by Shoaib Akhtar, who bowled the first ball officially timed at 100mph (comfortably repulsed by Knight) but went for seven an over. Later, Shoaib blazed 43 off 16 balls but it was already too late to matter.

Man of the Match: J. M. Anderson. Attendance: 22,796.