HARARE, Nov 28: Opener Ian Bell scored a half-century on his debut to guide England to a comfortable five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first One-day International on Sunday.

Bell made 75 as England made 197 for five in reply to Zimbabwe's total of 195 to win by five wickets with 14 balls to spare. The series has been reduced from five to four matches after England's arrival in Zimbabwe was delayed by more of the political wrangling that dominated the build-up to the tour.

SCOREBOARD

ZIMBABWE:

B.R.M. Taylor b Wharf 17

S. Matsikenyeri c Pietersen b Gough 14

V. Sibanda b Wharf 6

D.D. Ebrahim b Giles 45

M.A. Vermeulen run out 11

T. Taibu b Gough 5

E. Chigumbura c C'wood b Anderson 52

T. Panyangara lbw b Giles 1

P. Utseya not out 11

D.T. Hondo run out 7

C.B. Mpofu b Gough 0

EXTRAS (LB-8, W-17, NB-1) 26

TOTAL (all out, 49.3 overs) 195

FALL OF WKTS: 1-36, 2-45, 3-56, 4-80, 5-90, 6-172, 7-172, 8-175, 9-194.

BOWLING: Gough 9.3-0-34-3 (5w); Anderson 10-1-38-1 (8w); Wharf 10-2-38-2 (1nb); Collingwood 10-0-41-0 (2w); Giles 10-0-36-2 (2w).

ENGLAND:

V.S. Solanki c Panyangara b Hondo 7

I.R. Bell c Taibu b Taylor 75

M.P. Vaughan c C'bura b Matsikenyeri 56

A.J. Strauss c and b Matsikenyeri 8

K.P. Pietersen not out 27

P.D. Collingwood run out 1

G.O. Jones not out 7

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-9, NB-4) 16

TOTAL (for five wkts, 47.4 overs) 197

FALL OF WKTS: 1-21, 2-132, 3-146, 4-170, 5-175.

DID NOT BAT: A.F. Giles, A.G. Wharf, D. Gough, J.M. Anderson.

BOWLING: Panyangara 6-0-32-0 (3nb, 2w); Mpofu 9.4-1-32-0 (1w); Hondo 6-0-26-1 (3w); Chigumbura 2-0-18-0 (1nb); Utseya 10-0-39-0 (1w); Matsikenyeri 10-0-33-2 (2w); Taylor 4-0-14-1.

RESULT: England won by five wickets.

UMPIRES: K.C. Barbour (Zimbabwe) and B.G. Jerling (South Africa).

TV UMPIRE: R.B. Tiffin (Zimbabwe).

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

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Ian Bell.

SECOND MATCH: Harare, Dec 1.

THIRD MATCH: Bulawayo, Dec 4.

FOURTH MATCH: Bulawayo, Dec 5. -Reuters