ENGLAND have got the easy part over with to set up a crunch day-night game against Pakistan on Saturday, just.

Things got a little bit too tense against the minnows, Namibia, at one stage yesterday.

A horrendous upset looked on the cards for the competition's public enemies number one.

After being inserted on a poor pitch, stand-in skipper Alec Stewart led the way with a decent 60 to take England towards a half-decent total of 272, surely well beyond the World Cup debutantes.

Wickets were given away, in fact the majority of them, as England probably had one eye on the run rate.

Unfortunately there was no steamroller in the bowling attack, and 21 year-old student Jan-Berry Burger smashed 85 off 86 balls to take Namibia within a sniff of an upset.

But when Craig White finally got the vital breakthrough on 139, thankfully it turned the game our way. Keulder's run-out on 174 sparked a collapse, Namibia ending on 217 for 9.

I'm sure the result will raise many negatives for England, their inability to bowl them out and indeed Holland too, last Sunday. Nevertheless, it's still eight points from two played in a scintillating World Cup.

It's really been top draw so far, this competition. It's had everything from controversy to great cricket. I just hope England can make it through to the Super Sixes.

Anything other than victory on Saturday is likely to end their run, and the game is as crucial to Pakistan as it is to us.

It's very difficult to make any real prediction from the results both sides have recorded so far. From the 82 run defeat to Australia and a whopping victory over Namibia, it's evident that Pakistan's weakness is their batting.

Trouble is England haven't shown us any indications so far that they can expose it. Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar are dangerous, they blew away Namibia for just 84. That duo had the Aussie top order reeling too until Symonds saved the day.

England need Hussain back in the team, that's for sure.

I'm guessing it will be better to bat first rather than under lights, so they need instant luck with the toss. And they must get a good start from their first three to see off the first few overs to set up a big total, 280 plus to really put the pressure on.

If England end up chasing, I think they'll struggle. This game could be a real belter.

They mustn't bottle it.