12 September 2004	Sunday	26 Rajab 1425

BIRMINGHAM , Sept 11: Paul Collingwood hit an unbeaten 80 before impressing in the field as England cruised to a 152-run win over Zimbabwe in their ICC Champions Trophy match at Edgbaston on Saturday.

The game was held over after rain disrupted play twice on Friday but England took little time in polishing off their opponents, bowling Zimbabwe out for 147 in 39 overs.

Steve Harmison picked up three for 29 and Andrew Flintoff three for 11 with only captain Tatenda Taibu (40) frustrating England for any amount of time.

Taibu's dismissal was unfortunate, falling back and clattering into the stumps after playing a sweep shot off spinner Ashley Giles to be out hit wicket.

Dion Ebrahim was also unlucky, given out caught behind off Harmison but replays showed the ball flicked his sleeve.

Collingwood had earlier showcased his skill in the field by taking an excellent catch at backward point to remove opener Stuart Matsikenyeri off Darren Gough.

The hosts had resumed the impromptu day two on 198 for five with 12 overs remaining and wicket-keeper Geraint Jones fell early for 38 when he tried to dig out a Douglas Hondo yorker, only for the ball to run back onto the stumps.

However, Collingwood pushed England to 299 for seven, their highest one-day score against Zimbabwe, smashing three sixes and receiving good support from Giles who made 23 before he was run out in the final over.

Vikram Solanki made 62 on Friday when Zimbabwe's young and inexperienced bowling attack had restricted England well.

England play Sri Lanka in Southampton next Friday in what should be a Group 'D' decider.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (overnight 198-5):

M.E. Trescothick c Taylor b Hondo 10

V. Solanki lbw b Sibanda 62

M.P. Vaughan c Vermuelen b Rainsford 17

A.J. Strauss c Taibu b Rainsford 25

A. Flintoff c Hondo b Panyangara 6

P.D. Collingwood not out 80

G.O. Jones b Hondo 38

A.F. Giles run out 23

A.G. Wharf not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-22, NB-7) 34

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 299

FALL OF WKTS: 1-21, 2-54, 3-114, 4-123, 5-159, 6-220, 7-295.

DID NOT BAT: D. Gough, S.J. Harmison.

BOWLING: Panyangara 10-0-86-1 (5nb, 10w); Hondo 9-0-66-2 (4nb, 2w); Rainsford 10-0-43-2 (3w); Chigumbura 5-1-36-0 (1w); Utseya 10-0-35-0; Sibanda 3-0-12-1; Matsikenyeri 3-0-16-0.

ZIMBABWE:

S. Matsikenyeri c C'wood b Gough 4

B.R.M. Taylor lbw b Gough 6

V. Sibanda b Flintoff 28

D.D. Ebrahim c Jones b Harmison 3

M.A. Vermeulen c Jones b Harmison 0

T. Taibu hit wicket b Giles 40

E. Chigumbura not out 42

T. Panyangara b Harmison 1

P. Utseya c Gough b Flintoff 5

D.T. Hondo c T'cothick b Flintoff 0

E.C. Rainsford c Jones b Giles 4

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-7, NB-4) 14

TOTAL (all out, 39 overs) 147

FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-23, 3-26, 4-26, 5-64, 6-106, 7-120, 8-142, 9-142.

BOWLING: Gough 8-2-24-2 (3w); Harmison 10-3-29-3 (4w); Wharf 7-0-45-0 (3nb); Flintoff 6-1-11-3 (1nb); Giles 8-1-35-2.

RESULT: England won by 152 runs.

UMPIRES: S.A. Bucknor (West Indies) and S.J.A. Taufel (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: B.F. Bowden (New Zealand).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Paul Collingwood.-Reuters