NatWest: Eng vs Zim

England have gained victory against Zimbabwe in the NatWest tie at Bristol despite an exemplary spell of seam bowling by Zimbabwean captain Heath Streak.

Michael Vaughan won the toss and elected to bowl for England, who had replaced Jamie Troughton and Ashley Giles with Rikki Clarke and Steve Harmison.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, named debutant Charles Coventry to open the batting in place of all-rounder Douglas Marillier.

Coventry, however, on a pitch helpful to the seamers looked well and truly out of his depth in becoming the first wicket to fall. He found a leading edge and the safe hands of Vaughan off James Anderson to be out for 3.

Dion Ebrahim was the next to fall, making just 7 (Zimbabwe's third highest score off the bat) when he was caught at first slip off a brilliant Darren Gough bouncer.

Gough then claimed his second victim when Travis Friend edged an outswinger to the impressively safe hands of Chris Read behind the stumps to leave the tourists in a large spot of bother at 3/20.

Tatenda Taibu came and went, adding just 1 to the increasingly hopeless cause before being caught at slip by Marcus Trescothick off Richard Johnson.

An impressive Gough then snared his third and fourth wickets with the double breakthrough of Grant Flower (1) and Heath Streak (5), both caught behind and Zimbabwe were in danger of being shot out for less than 50 at 6/45.

Sean Ervine's miserable summer in England continued when he was dismissed for 0, caught off the bowling of Johnson. Zimbabwe, however, had passed 50 by that stage.

Andrew Flintoff then snared the final 3 wickets of Stuart Matsikenyeri, Andy Blignaut and Ray Price to leave Zimbabwe all out for 92.

Credit must be given to Matsikenyeri, who courageously played his shots and almost helped Zimbabwe creep past 100 with his 26.

For England, Gough took 4/26, Flintoff 3/13, Johnson 2/16 and James Anderson 1/15. Steve Harmison went wicket less on his return to the ODI arena as Zimbabwe were steamrolled in embarrassing fashion.

Had Zimbabwe made an extra 30 runs, however, the game may have been a tighter contest due to a brilliant spell of bowling from Heath Streak.

Streak claimed all four English wickets to fall with excellent deliveries, and in a tribute to his class and accuracy, his first bad delivery was not until his 8th over.

However, as usual, he lacked support, with Douglas Hondo and Andy Blignaut, the other 2 bowlers used going for a total of 70 runs. With 70 runs flowing from the other end chasing 92, Streak was on a hiding to nothing.

England gained the required runs with 4 wickets down despite the nervous start, with Andrew Flintoff unbeaten on 47 and Michael Vaughan 11* after a very scratchy effort.

Streak finished with 4/21 from his 9 overs, a world class display.

Scores:

Zimbabwe 92 (S Matsikenyeri 26, D Gough 4/26, A Flintoff 3/13)

England: 95/4 (A Flintoff 47*, H Streak 4/21)

England won by 6 wickets.

Cricket Web Player-of-the-Match: Heath Streak.

Points: England 6.

Posted by Andre