Cook glad to pitch in to England victory

Alastair Cook continued to answer all those who doubt his limited overs ability with an unbeaten 95 as England thrashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the fourth one-day international.

Alastair Cook continued to answer all those who doubt his limited overs ability with an unbeaten 95 as England thrashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the fourth one-day international.

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England's win at Trent Bridge here on Wednesday squared the five-match series at 2-2 heading into Saturday's finale at Old Trafford.

Cook, England's new permanent one-day captain, didn't even make the squad for the World Cup in the sub-continent earlier this year on account of the left-handed opener being supposedly too slow a run-scorer for the one-day game.

But at Trent Bridge the 26-year-old made his runs in just 75 balls with 16 fours as he and Craig Kieswetter (72 not out) shared a new England record partnership for any wicket against Sri Lanka of 171.

Cook's innings followed his career-best 119 during England's six-wicket defeat at Lord's on Sunday.

"It's very rewarding, for all the hard work I've been putting in," Cook told reporters. "I've always known I can play the one-day game; it's just a matter of trying to prove it to people.

Sri Lanka annoyed England by effectively delaying their victory at Lord's so as Dinesh Chadimal could get to a hundred.

But the 26-year-old Cook insisted he had no problems with the big-hitting Kieswetter preventing him recording his second straight century.