Archives

By Sa'adi Thawfeeq

England began their ICC Champions trophy Pool 2 campaign with a convincing 108 runs win over Zimbabwe under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday. Opener Marcus Trescothick's fourth century in his 45th one-day international gave England a commanding total of 298-6 in 50 overs which was easily the highest of the on-going tournament.

Zimbabwe were then pushed on the defensive by fast bowler Matthew Hoggard who in an unchanged spell of 10 overs snapped up the first three wickets for 25 runs to put the contest beyond doubt. The medium-pace of Ronnie Irani made sure there were no late surprises from the likes of Andy Flower (who scored a century against India in their 14-run defeat on Saturday) by running through the Zimbabwe middle-order, taking four wickets for 37 runs in an unbroken spell of ten overs.

His victims included the wicket of Andy Flower whom he had caught off the leading edge at wide gully for 44 scored off 59 balls as he tried to work him to leg.

Zimbabwe's task was compounded further when they were docked two overs for producing a slow over rate during the England innings. Thus they had only 48 overs to chase a target of 299, averaging 6.22 runs an over to keep pace with the England scoring rate.

The task proved beyond them and they could muster only 190-9 in 48 overs with skipper Heath Streak making a top score of 50 not out off 58 balls with two sixes and three fours in a lost cause.

Man-of-the-match Trescothick continued his fine form for the year by completing a fine century to enable England make a formidable total. The tall left-hander was in fine fettle having recovered from a broken finger which kept him out of the first three home Tests against India to thump 11 fours and two sixes in his 102 balls innings.

The previous highest total in the current competition was 296-7 by Australia against New Zealand at the SSC grounds three days ago. England lost Nick Knight early for eight in the sixth over after they had won the toss and batted, but recovered well through their second wicket pair of Trescothick and skipper Nasser Hussain who put on 141 off 162 balls. It was this same pair that that added 188 off 177 balls in the NatWest final against India at Lord's in June. On that occasion both batsmen made centuries.

Yesterday, Hussain who looked good for a hundred played was dismissed for 75 when he attempted a ball from Heath Streak from off stump and was bowled. He faced 97 balls and hit six fours.

Trescothick's innings came to an end in the 39th over when he tried to force Grant Flower on the off side and was bowled with England on 224. He gave a chance at 101 which was not accepted when Dion Ebrahim fluffed an easy catch at long off off Grant Flower.

Owais Shah (25 off 24 balls) and Alec Stewart (23 not out off 18 balls) kept the England run rate going at nearly six an over despite Douglas Hondo snapping up three wickets for 11 runs in two overs to finish with figures of four for 44 in six.

Alistair Campbell took over the wicket-keeping duties for Zimbabwe for the first 28 overs during which time he caught out Ronnie Irani and Shah, before handing it over to regular 'keeper Andy Flower who had a poor match against India four days ago.

England's emphatic win yesterday has set up another enthralling contest against India at the same venue on under lights on Sunday. That contest will decide the winner of Pool 2. The two teams met in a high-scoring NatWest final at Lord's in June this year with India running out winners by two wickets with three balls to spare.

ENGLAND 

M.E. Trescothick b G. Flower			119
N.V. Knight b Hondo				  8
N. Hussain b Streak				 75
R.C. Irani c Campbell b G. Flower		  4
I.D. Blackwell c A. Flower b Streak		 17
O.A. Shah c Campbell b Hondo			 25
A.J. Stewart not out				 23
D.G. Cork c Streak b Hondo			  0
J.N. Snape c and b Hondo			  7
A.R. Caddick not out				 10

Extras (lb-3, nb-1, w-6)			 10
Total (8 wkts inns closed, 50 overs)		298
Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Knight), 2-187 (Hussain), 
3-200 (Irani), 4-224(Trescothick), 5-240 (Blackwell), 
6-272 (Shah), 7-273 (Cork), 8-287 (Snape).
Did not bat: M.J. Hoggard.
Bowling: Streak 10-0-50-2 (1w, 1nb), 
Hondo 6-0-44-4 (1w), Mbangwa
10-0-52-0, Whittall 7-0-45-0, 
Marillier 4-0-26-0 (2w), Price 4-0-27-0 (2w),
G. Flower 9-0-51-2.

ZIMBABWE 

A.D.R. Campbell b Hoggard			 2
D.D. Ebrahim c Blackwell b Hoggard		20
G.W. Flower c Trescothick b Hoggard		 7
A. Flower c Snapes b Irani			44
S.V. Carlisle c Knight b Irani			23
G.J. Whittall lbw b Irani			 4
H.H. Streak not out				50
D.A. Marillier lbw b Snape			 6
D.T. Hondo b Irani				11
R.W. Price run out				 7
M. Mbangwa not out				 1

Extras (b-1, lb-6, nb-2, w-6)			15
Total (9 wkts inns closed, 48 overs)	        190
Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Campbell), 2-14 
(G. Flower), 3-55 (Ebrahim), 4-102
(A. Flower), 5-111 (Carlisle), 6-112 
(Whittall), 7-129 (Marillier), 8-150
(Hondo), 9-188 (Price). 
Bowling: Caddick 10-0-37-0 (1w), 
Hoggard 10-1-25-3 (2nb), Cork 8-0-37-0
(5w), Irani 10-0-37-4, Snape 6-0-18-1, Blackwell 4-0-29-0.
TODAY: AUSTRALIA v BANGLADESH at SSC, 10 a.m.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager