England have started their troubled tour to Zimbabwe with a simple 5 wicket win thanks to half centuries from the captain Michael Vaughan and debutant Ian Bell after Darren Gough had taken 3 wickets.The day started badly for the host as they succumbed to 90/5 before a vital partnership of 82 between Ebrahim & Chigumbura restored some pride to the score.
While Ebrahim was happy to block up an end and just try to keep the score moving his partner Chigumbura wasn't so keen to hang around smashing six boundaries and a six in a score of 52.
Ebrahim was first to go with the score on 172 getting clean bowled by the spinner Giles for a slow 45 that included just one boundary in his 90 ball stay.
The wicket started the second major collapse of the innings as with the score still on 172, Zimbabwe lost another wicket this time big one of Chigumbura who was looking set; just three runs later Panyangara become Giles second victim of the innings.
The innings soon ended with the re-introduction of Gough who clean bowled Mpofu for a golden duck and to wrap up the innings.
England set about the target in poor fashion as Solanki again failed with the bat however the wicket didn't unsettle the team thanks to half centuries from the captain Michael Vaughan and debutant Ian Bell.
Vaughan hit his 10th ODI half century from 62 balls including five boundaries and a big six, Bell on debut was understandably playing it a bit safer but wasn't far behind the captain in bring up his own half century from 80 balls and including just three boundaries.
But as we have seen ten times previously Vaughan couldn't convert that start into a big score becoming Matsikenyeri's first wicket of the day... he didn't have to wait long for his second either as Strauss chipped one straight back to the bowler when on 8.
However despite the two quick wickets it was the two debutants (Bell & Pietersen) who took a step back and looked at the situation before they set about building a solid partnership again.
With victory insight England again lost two quick wickets as firstly Bell went for a fine 75 and he was followed an over later by Collingwood who was run out for just 1.
However this England team bats low these days and with Pietersen and Jones at the middle England never looked likely to throw that hard work away as the pair knocked off the 20 runs required for victory with a couple of overs to spare.
Match Summary
Zimbabwe v England - Harare Sports Club
Zimbabwe: 195 - Chigumbura 52, Ebrahim 45; Gough 3/34, Giles 2/36
England: 197/5 - Bell 75, Vaughan 56; Matsikenyeri 2/33
Result: England won by 5 wickets
Posted by Richard