Collingwood helps England to another victory

A career best 77 from Paul Collingwood allied to impressive team work from England secured a 70-run win over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international at the Queens Sports Club on Wednesday.

Collingwood provided the foundation of the England innings as they scored 280 for nine in 50 overs to maintain a perfect winning record in Zimbabwe and condemned the home side to their 11th successive loss.

Acting skipper Marcus Trescothick, who won the toss and elected to bat, scored a quick 52, while Andy Flintoff weighed in with 46 from 45 balls.

Zimbabwe were never up with the required 5.62 run rate despite 96 from Grant Flower.

Prior to the match Flower had scored just three runs in the series, but he batted with uncharacteristic aggression, moving to his half-century off 45 balls.

Zimbabwe off-spinner Doug Marillier was the pick of the bowlers taking four for 38 in 10 overs, while England slow left-armer Paul Grayson took three for 40.

Earlier Trescothick and Nick Knight put on 101 for the first wicket off 89 balls, the highest first wicket partnership of the series.

Marillier then captured two wickets in his third over to briefly curtail the visitors before Flintoff and Collingwood established themselves.

Knight was caught at the wicket by Andy Flower for 49 and two balls later Owais Shah, making his first appearance of the series, was dismissed in the same fashion without scoring.

Knight, whose lowest score in the series is 41, scored his runs from 51 balls with seven boundaries. Collingwood scored his off 90 balls which included five boundaries and a six.

In the penultimate over of the England innings he was run out when Marillier, at square leg, fielded cleanly and threw the ball to the bowlers' end where Travis Friend completed the dismissal.

In reply, Zimbabwe lost the early wicket of captain Alistair Campbell, caught at mid-wicket by Nick Knight off Ryan Sidebottom for six, before a 54-run second wicket stand between Grant Flower and Stuart Carlisle steadied the innings.

But medium-pacer Ben Hollioake struck twice in short succession to remove Carlisle and Andy Flower in the 18th and 20th overs, which effectively ended Zimbabwe's chances of victory.

Flower was caught by wicketkeeper James Foster for six after lofting a delivery towards square leg where Foster made a good running catch.

England lead the five-match series 4-0, with the final encounter scheduled for the same venue on Saturday.

Mail Cricket Editor