Colombo: England registered a comprehensive 108-run victory against Zimbabwe in a Champions Trophy Group 'B' league match on Wednesday, sending warning signals to India ahead of its crucial match on Sunday. England rode on a blazing century by opener Marcus Trescothick to pile up 298 for eight in its stipulated 50 overs, the highest score of the tournament so far.
In response, Zimbabwe, which was docked two overs for slow bowling rate, were restricted to a mere 190 for nine in 48 overs in another lop-sided encounter of this 12-nation tournament. England now takes on India, described by captain Nasser Hussain in a TV interview on Wednesday as the 'favourites' to win the tournament, for a place in the semi-final. It was a totally dominating performance by England who proved far superior to their opponents in every department of the game. England's hero of the day obviously was Trescothick who hit 119 runs of just 102 balls with 11 fours and two sixes to set up his team's best-ever total against Zimbabwe. Captain Nasser Hussain came up with a solid 75 and was associated in a 141-run second wicket stand with Trescothick, while Owais Shah (25) and Alec Stewart (23 not out) also chipped in with useful contributions towards the end. In contrast, Zimbabwe innings never flourished and except for its old warhorses Heath Streak, who remained unbeaten on 50, and Andy Flower (44), none of the batsmen were able to settle down against a disciplined English attack. Zimbabwe's decline started early with opener Alistair Campbell (2) and Grant Flower (7) being dismissed when only 14 runs had been scored. Andy Flower, who had hit a fine 145 against India, tried to rebuild the innings in the company of Dion Ebrahim but the partnership was worth only 41 runs. Matthew Hoggard, who had claimed both the earlier wickets, had Ebrahim (20) caught by debutant Ian Blackwell. Andy Flower was then associated in the best partnership of the innings with former captain Stuart Carlisle, the two adding 47 runs for the fourth wicket. Zimbabwe, which was almost out of the game by then with the required run rate going over eight an over, suffered its biggest jolt when Andy Flower became the first of Ronnie Irani's four victims. Zimbabwe never recovered from that setback and kept losing wickets at regular intervals after that. Streak only brought some excitement in the lost battle with some big hits towards the end. He smashed two successive sixes against Blackwell in the 46th over and also hit three boundaries in his 58-ball knock. For England, Irani claimed four wickets for 37 runs while Hoggard took three for 25. However, it was Trescothick who was adjudged the man-of-the-match for his brilliant knock. Extras:
Scorecard of Match 7
Trescothick slams brilliant ton, England posts 298/8
Unwell Lara slams ton; West Indies wins by 29 runs
Tags: cricket, colombo, england, zimbabwe, india, marcus trescothick, england captain nasser hussain, owais shah, alec stewart, heath streak, andy flower, alistair campbell, grant flower, dion ebrahim, matthew hoggard, ian blackwell, zimbabwe captain stuart carlisle, ronnie irani.
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