England amass 327-8 against Ireland

BANGALORE: England piled up 327 runs for the loss of seven wickets against Ireland in their Group B match here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.

After captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bat, he and Kevin Pietersen opened the innings and provided a good start of 91 runs before Strauss was bowled by George Dockrell for 34.

Pietersen also went after getting his 22nd one-day international half-century, caught behind off Paul Stirling for 59.

Later, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell got together to take England to 278, adding 167 runs for the third wicket.

Then, John Mooney and Trent Johnston struck back and began sending England batsmen to pavilion at regular short intervals. First to go was Bell caught Stirling b Mooney for his 86-ball 81 with eight fours and a six.

The runs later, Trott was bowled by Mooney for 92, eight short of his fourth ODI hundred. His 92-ball innings was laced with nine boundaries.

Paul Collingwood could make only 16 from 11 balls and he was also dismissed by Mooney who later got Tim Bresnan out for three.

Johnston also captured two wickets, dismissing Matt Prior for six and Michael Yardy for four while Graeme Swann remained not out on nine.

Mooney finished on four for 63 and Johnston claimed two wickets.

England are looking to keep up their unbeaten run at the tournament after beating Netherlands and holding favourites India to a nail-biting tie.

Ireland are seeking their first win in this tournament after going down to co-hosts Bangladesh by 27 runs in their opening match.

Fast bowler Stuart Broad returned from illness and replaced fellow seamer Ajmal Shahzad in the only change to the England side that dramatically tied its previous group game with co-hosts India on Sunday.

That meant swing specialist James Anderson kept his place despite conceding 91 runs against India -- the most by an England bowler in any World Cup match.

Ireland, who lost their opener to Bangladesh by 27 runs, brought in Australia-born all-rounder Alex Cusack for Andrew White and batsman Gary Wilson came in for seamer Andre Botha, who injured his groin during the warm-up.