OWN CORRESPONDENT, Kimberley | Sunday 6.00pm.
MARK Ealham claimed a world record five lbw decisions and England’s best one-day international bowling figures as they gained revenge over Zimbabwe with a crushing eight-wicket win on Sunday.
England overtook Zimbabwe’s paltry 161 for nine with almost 18 overs to spare.
It was some compensation for their dismal 104-run thrashing by Zimbabwe only two days earlier and in the process improved their net run rate enough to go top of the standings in the triangular series which also involves South Africa.
Medium pacer Ealham, who bowled his 10 overs from umpire Dave Orchard’s end, took five for 15 as Zimbabwe managed a run rate of only just over three an over in their 50 overs.
England replied with 162 for two with 17,5 overs to spare.
Ealham began his damaging spell in the 21st over by dismissing Grant Flower for 28. Four overs later he sent back Flower’s brother, Zimbabwean captain Andy, for eight.
Stuart Carlisle scored two before becoming Ealham’s third victim in the 27th over, followed two balls later by Guy Whittall for a duck.
Murray Goodwin (15) etched his name into the record books in dubious fashion in the 29th over when he became Ealham’s fifth lbw victim.
With fellow medium pacer Mark Alleyne removing Alistair Campbell for 28 in the 20th over, Zimbabwe lost six wickets for 27 runs in 9,5 overs.
John Rennie, who made 23, and Heath Streak, who top-scored with 35 not out, then shared an eighth-wicket stand of 62 to spare some of Zimbabwe’s blushes.
An opening partnership of 128 — the highest for any wicket in limited overs matches between England and Zimbabwe — between captain Nasser Hussain and Nick Knight all but wrapped up the England’s win.
Hussain’s 64 came off 77 balls with seven fours and two sixes, with Knight facing 94 deliveries and hitting eight fours in his undefeated 72.
Zimbabwe had injury added to insult when wicketkeeper Andy Flower left the field at the end of the 11th over with a dislocated finger.
Alistair Campbell took over behind the stumps, but Flower returned to field in the outfield and he will be fit for Zimbabwe’s match against South Africa in Durban on Wednesday. — Reuters
Scoreboard
Zimbabwe N.Johnson c Hussain b Caddick 11 G.Flower lbw b Ealham 28 A.Campbell c Solanki b Alleyne 28 M.Goodwin lbw b Ealham 15 A.Flower lbw b Ealham 8 S.Carlisle lbw b Ealham 2 G.Whittall lbw b Ealham 0 H.Streak not out 35 J.Rennie c Hussain b Gough 23 H. Olonga b Gough 0 Extras (lb-4 w-6 nb-1) 11 Total (for nine wickets) 161 Did not bat: A Whittall Fall of wickets: 1-15 2-71 3-73 4-92 5-96 6-97 7-98 8-160 9-161 Bowling: Gough 10-2-31-2 (w-2), Caddick 10-2-21-1 (w-1), White 10-1-44-0 (nb-1), Alleyne 10-0-46-1 (w-1), Ealham 10-3-15-5 (w-2)
England
N.Hussain c Rennie b Olonga 64 N.Knight not out 72 G.Hick b Streak 2 V.Solanki not out 16 Extras (b-4 lb-1 nb-1 w-2) 8 Total (for two wickets) 162 Fall of wickets: 1-128 2-140 Did not bat: D.Maddy, C.White, M.Alleyne, M.Ealham, C.Read, A.Caddick, D.Gough. Bowling: Olonga 9-0-52-1 (nb-1), Rennie 7-0-27-0 (w-1), Streak 7.1-0-26-1, A Whittall 4-1-25-0, G Whittall 5-0-27-0 (w-1).
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