Date:28/06/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/06/28/stories/2003062805551900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Grant Flower lifts Zimbabwe to victory

By Ted Corbett

NOTTINGHAM June 26. Zimbabwe, outclassed in the Test series by England and beaten by Ireland in a practice game, restored its good name in the opening match in the tri-series against England and South Africa at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Zimbabwe beat England, which had obtained a series win over Pakistan last weekend, by four wickets after a gruelling effort and threw the whole tournament into the melting pot.

England dropped three chances and a rash shot by the new captain Michael Vaughan when it was on top played a vital part in its defeat.

Zimbabwe found a new hero after it slid to 15 for four in the 10th over as it chased England's 191. He was the smallest player on the field, even compared with the 5ft 4in wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu and he has not yet had his 21st birthday.

But Stuart Matsikenyeri, who was part of the same group that found Taibu and in only his fourth one-day international, has not just the pedigree strokes but the heart for a fight. His stand of 96 with Man of the Match Grant Flower, who finished undefeated on 96, proved the turning point for Zimbabwe, the mother of all underdogs when the game began.

Zimbabwe had begun its reply disastrously. Richard Johnson, making his one-day debut and only a month away from his six-wicket haul in his first Test, had Dion Ebrahim caught high in the slips by Flintoff off his second ball and Darren Gough, whose rebirth as an international fast bowler is the talk at dinner tables the length of Britain, followed up by getting lifting balls to flick off the gloves of Travis Friend and Don Marillier.

By the end of the sixth over Zimbabwe was eight for three and Gough had taken two for four in eight balls.

Marillier walked even though Clarke's low catch needed half a dozen replays to persuade anyone that it was genuine. Marillier has either astonishing eyesight or great faith in the honesty of cricketers, accused by Dominic Cork, the Derbyshire captain, of being part of a culture of cheating.