England amass 279-6 against Canada without Flintoff

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, Mar 18 (Reuters) Ed Joyce hit a half-century to help England to 279 for six against Canada in their World Cup Group C match today, but the game was overshadowed by Andrew Flintoff being dropped.

The England all-rounder was left out and stripped of the World Cup vice-captaincy after a late night drinking binge following Friday's defeat by New Zealand in their first match of the tournament.

The well-known drinker was one of six players to be fined for the breach of team discipline but James Anderson, Ian Bell, Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett remained in the side.

Joyce, who formerly played for Ireland and watched their victory over Pakistan on St. Patrick's Day yesterday, enjoyed the luck of the Irish on his way to 66.

The Dublin-born opener, who has struggled so far in the West Indies, was dropped by Desmond Chumney and wicketkeeper Ashish Bagai before completing his second one-day fifty.

He fell when he was bowled by spinner and fork-lift truck driver Sunil Dhaniram attempting an audacious reverse sweep.

Joyce had shared an opening partnership of 101 with Michael Vaughan before the captain was caught at backward point by his opposite number John Davison off Abdool Samad for 45 in the 20th over.

England stuttered slightly in the middle overs with 38-year-old Dhaniram picking up three quick wickets, including Kevin Pietersen caught and bowled for five, with only eight runs added.

All-rounder Ravi Bopara, making only his second one-day international appearance as the replacement for Flintoff, looked composed at the crease before departing in a similarly embarrassing fashion to Joyce for 29.

Paul Collingwood was there at the end with a superb 62.

Reuters PDS RN2245