Time for England to re-Joyce

England reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time since 1996 on Saturday...

England reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time since 1996 on Saturday, with Ed Joyce hitting 75 in a seven-wicket win over Kenya. Chasing Kenya’s 177 all out, England reached 178 for three with 10 overs remaining in a rain-interrupted match.

England now face Ireland — where Joyce grew up — in their first Super 8 match at Providence, Guyana on Friday. Joyce helped Ireland qualify for this World Cup before he became eligible to represent England. Andrew Flintoff marked his return to the England team after a one-match suspension with two wickets, taking 2-35, including the key wicket of Kenya captain Steve Tikolo (72).

Joyce reached his fourth ODI 50 in his 15th match by sweeping Jimmy Kamande behind square. He made 75 before he was bowled by Tikolo to end a 103-run third-wicket stand with Kevin Pietersen (56). England’s reply had started shakily — Michael Vaughan (1) only lasted four balls before Peter Ongondo dived for a low catch at backward point.

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Ian Bell (16) advanced down the pitch to face Thomas Odoyo but sent his shot straight into the grateful hands of sub Rajesh Bhudiya.

Pietersen was dropped on seven by wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma off Hiren Varaiya’s first ball but hit 5 boundaries and one six to help guide England home with Paul Collingwood (18 not out).

Without Tikolo, Kenya’s total could have been embarrassingly small. He reached his 50 from 58 balls and had a reprieve on 52, when he was dropped by Joyce at mid-on off Flintoff.

Tikolo was eventually undone by a Flintoff yorker. Flintoff was introduced in the sixth over and while he sent down two no balls in his first six deliveries.

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The affable England allrounder was not selected for the 51-run win over Canada on the weekend after going out on a drinking binge following the opening loss to New Zealand. He reportedly needed rescuing at 4 am after capsizing a small paddle boat.

After Kenya chose to bat first, England got an early breakthrough when James Anderson (2-27) took out Ravi Shah’s off stump for four. Kenya advanced slowly — when Ouma (13) was caught by Paul Collingwood (2-33) at mid-on, it was only 35-2 in the 11th over.

–KRYSTYNA RUDZKI