England captain prepares for crucial clash with trip to lap dance club

Newspaper reports today revealed the England one-day captain had visited the bar just hours after suffering an eight-wicket defeat to Australia and a day before their defeat to South Africa to damage their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Those hopes suffered a further blow following today's five-run defeat to New Zealand and Collingwood, who got up early that morning to play golf, said: "It's obviously unacceptable and I'll have to learn from that.

"The fact is I made a mistake, that's what it comes down to, and what I need to focus on now is a big game tomorrow for us.

"I was taken in a car with friends and taken to the bar and got there, had a beer and thought 'I need to get out of this place'."

Asked if he expected censure from the England and Wales Cricket Board about his behaviour, Collingwood said: "I'm not too sure, it's entirely up to them.

"I've made apologies to them and I realise it was inappropriate to go there and that was my mistake.

"I'm disappointed with myself but hopefully we can quickly get over it and concentrate on this game tomorrow because mathematically we're still hoping we can get through."

His late-night antics overshadowed the start to a key match for England but chasing New Zealand's 164 for nine, they slumped to 159 for eight in reply despite a maiden Twenty20 international half-century from Darren Maddy.

Having reached a comfortable 72 for one at the halfway stage, England lost four wickets in as many overs and needing 20 off the last two overs with five wickets in hand, they lost three wickets in four balls to end their challenge.

They now need to beat India in tomorrow's match and hope New Zealand beat South Africa to have any chance of reaching the last four on superior run-rate.

"We just seem to be teasing ourselves all the time," said Collingwood. "We're getting so close to knock the runs off and then we lose an important wicket and that partnership we need at a vital time we've just not been able to get.

"Whether that's experience or not I don't know, but it's a game that puts you under immense pressure, you have to go in and score from ball one and we just weren't up to it."

New Zealand, already assured of a place in the last four, will also be hoping they can win tomorrow and secure top place in the group which would ensure they would stay in Durban for the semi-final.

Captain Daniel Vettori added: "We just want to win games and while we're pretty close to those semi-finals, we've still got the South Africa game tomorrow and we'd like to finish first in the group and perceivably get an easier semi-final."