Good Morning All. Today from Headingley, Leeds we have the second
England v Zimbabwe NatWest Series match for you.
The first round of matches is dobe, there is a symmetry about the
results. Zimbabwe beat England, England beat South Africa and
South Africa beat Zimbabwe, and all that separates the sides is
run-rate.
Todays match provides England with an opportunity to make amends
for the sub-standard performance they put in at Trent Bridge in
the opening match of series. After the win against South Africa,
confidence should be high, but that was the
case after beating Pakistan.
Zimbabwe will on the other hands try to stymie England's hopes and
go all out to get ahead on a head to head basis. Zimbabwe have
served notice that they cannot be taken lightly.
Zimbabwe have announced an unchanged team and England have yet to
announce the team and there is a question on skipper Vaughan's
fitness.
Todays weather is a problem, the wicket is covered and we are in
for a delayed start after lots of rain overnight and this morning.
Its still drizzling, there will be a further report available at
12:15GMT.
Some better news, covers coming off, inspection 11:15GMT and if
there is no more rain a reduced 40 over a side match should start
at 12:15GMT
We should have now a 43 over game as the extra hour is available,
the over restritions will be 12 instead of 15, a 20 minute break
and 3 bowlers will be allowed 9 overs, rest 8 overs. Start
expected 12:15GMT about 40 mins from now.
Unfortunately its rainig again andcovers are coming back on so toss
delayed and possible a further delay for the start>'
Next inspection at 14:00GMT in about 10 mins, covers are off
Player are warming up in hope of some play soon, possibly a 25-30
over game if no rain
After inspection the decision is a 25 over match with 5 per bowler
Of course depends on rain and rain staying away
Ground expected to be fit for play by 14:50GMT
Thus to be clear the earliest play could start is 14:50GMT
There is a toss to be done in between and rain to stay away, also
Zim have swapped Price for Brent
So game may become a bit of a slogfest in the latest fashion in
England of 20:20 cricket
As its now fixed as a 25 over game there can be no D/L interruption
rule to apply any more
Toss has been just done and Zimbabwe won and will be bowling first
England team: ME Trescothick, VS Solanki, *MP Vaughan, A Flintoff,
A McGrath, +CMW Read, JO Troughton, Kabir Ali, JM Anderson, RL
Johnson, D Gough.
Zimbabwe team: DA Marillier, DD Ebrahim, GW Flower, S Matsikenyeri,
TJ Friend, +T Taibu, *HH Streak, AM Blignaut, SM Ervine, DT Hondo,
GB Brent.
Fielding restricions will be for 7 overs
There will be a 10 minute shower break in between innings (for
those wanting one)
Match State: Match start At 14:50GMT
The pitch has been shrouded so little to say about it, though from
here it looks dry, run ups may be a problem
About 8 mins to go, the portable wheeled cover still hovering about
but if it does rain anymore we won't have a game
Covers are indeed off and the pitch should have runs in it BUT the
atmosphere will favour bowlers as its very heavy.
Heath Streak seemed happy deciding to bowl first and much depends
on his accurate bowling
The roll on cover was not the 'posh sort' I saw rubber wheels on it
But its certainly easier on the groundstaff, wonder why the sub-
continetal grounds dont use it? Perhaps less rain there?
Solanki and Trescothick arrivine on the scene now
This is ump Shepherds 133rd match and for the trim and younger
Taufel is his 50th
Streak has the new ball for Trescothick
0.1 Streak to Trescothick, one run, on leg stump and its turned to leg
0.2 Streak to Solanki, no run, outside off and moving away, left alone
0.3 Streak to Solanki, no run, well outside off and mving away sharply,
Solanki has a massive swing at it and misses
0.4 Streak to Solanki, no run, another wide outside off awayswinger and
another swipe misses
0.5 Streak to Solanki, one run, on the off and driven to cover, has to
scramble as throw missed, looked nasty for him
0.6 Streak to Trescothick, no run, a yorker and its played out to cover
End of over 1 (2 runs) England 2/0 (RR: 2.00)
HH Streak 1-0-2-0 - Kirkstall Lane End
VS Solanki 1* (4b) ME Trescothick 1* (2b)
Hondo on and has his famous hairdo in full display
1.1 Hondo to Solanki, one run, does not get to it but drives anyway to
slice to third man
1.2 Hondo to Trescothick, no run, good bounce on that into the stumps
and Trescothick manages to keep it down to gully
1.3 Hondo to Trescothick, one run, driven to mid on
1.4 Hondo to Solanki, FOUR, comes rushing out and drives over cover
1.5 Hondo to Solanki, no run, beaten outside ff and a great take by
Taibu the 'keeper
1.6 Hondo to Solanki, two runs, short and its mistimed just over mid
wicket
End of over 2 (8 runs) England 10/0 (RR: 5.00)
DT Hondo 1-0-8-0 - Football Stand End
ME Trescothick 2* (4b) VS Solanki 8* (8b 1x4)
2.1 Streak to Trescothick, legbye: one run, on the legs and rising, off
the thigh to Hondo at short fine leg
2.2 Streak to Solanki, OUT: extravagance does not pay!, good ball on
middle stump and a turn to leg gets a leading edge to Grant Flower
at 3rd slip
England 11/1, Partnership of 11
VS Solanki c Flower b Streak 8 (9b 1x4 0x6)
ME Trescothick 2* (5b) HH Streak 1.2-0-2-1
Chris Read in for a bat
2.3 Streak to Read, one run, steered to third man
2.4 Streak to Trescothick, no run, defends to gully
2.5 Streak to Trescothick, no run, short and on the off, guides
straight to slips
2.6 Streak to Trescothick, OUT: Trescothick stayed after an edge to a
great ball that left him and Flower in the slips dived to hs right
for a superp one handed low catch, umps had to not the batsman
away
England 12/2, Partnership of 1
ME Trescothick c Flower b Streak 2 (8b 0x4 0x6)
End of over 3 (2 runs) England 12/2 (RR: 4.00)
HH Streak 2-0-3-2 - Kirkstall Lane End
CMW Read 1* (1b)
Vaughan now in
3.1 Hondo to Read, no run, tries a turn but its off the pads to the
keeper
3.2 Hondo to Read, no run, defended to mid on
3.3 Hondo to Read, wide: no run, down the legside, seamed too
3.3 Hondo to Read, no run, pushed to mid on and tries a desperate
single but Brent hits the only stump visible and tv decides its
out too!
England 13/3, Partnership of 1
CMW Read run out (Brent) 1 (4b 0x4 0x6)
3.4 Hondo to Vaughan, no run, defended to mid on
3.5 Hondo to Vaughan, two runs, guided to backward point and an
overthrow there
3.6 Hondo to Vaughan, no run, beaten on an awayswinger outside off
End of over 4 (3 runs) England 15/3 (RR: 3.75)
DT Hondo 2-0-11-0 (1w) - Football Stand End
A Flintoff 0* (0b) MP Vaughan 2* (3b)
4.1 Streak to Flintoff, no run, defends to covers
4.2 Streak to Flintoff, one run, turned to mid wicket
4.3 Streak to Vaughan, two runs, turned again to mid wicket
4.4 Streak to Vaughan, wide: no run, down the legside
4.4 Streak to Vaughan, no run, defends a short one back
4.5 Streak to Vaughan, no run, beaten outside off
4.6 Streak to Vaughan, one run, guides to gully for a quick run
End of over 5 (5 runs) England 20/3 (RR: 4.00)
HH Streak 3-0-8-2 (1w) - Kirkstall Lane End
MP Vaughan 5* (7b) A Flintoff 1* (2b)
5.1 Hondo to Vaughan, no run, good ball, nipped back keeping low and a
drive misses
5.2 Hondo to Vaughan, legbye: one run, into him and its off the pads to
leg
5.3 Hondo to Flintoff, one run, short and he goes back to prod to mid
wicket
5.4 Hondo to Vaughan, one run, on the stumps and pushed to mid off
5.5 Hondo to Flintoff, one run, a firm drive to mid off, Streak has a
shy at the stumps and misses
5.6 Hondo to Vaughan, one run, on the stumps and turned to mid wicket
End of over 6 (5 runs) England 25/3 (RR: 4.17)
DT Hondo 3-0-15-0 (1w) - Football Stand End
MP Vaughan 7* (11b) A Flintoff 3* (4b)
6.1 Streak to Vaughan, no run, just outside off and its pushed to point
6.2 Streak to Vaughan, no run, short outside off and a cut is smashed
into the ground, Streak rushes to it and stops a single
6.3 Streak to Vaughan, FOUR, pitched up and an inside out drive through
the covers
6.4 Streak to Vaughan, no run, good ball almost like a leg break as it
seamed off the pitch
6.5 Streak to Vaughan, no run, great ball, a loud shout looked very
close and Taufel gave the benefit to Vaughan luckily
6.6 Streak to Vaughan, no run, short and pulls but straight to short
fine leg
End of over 7 (4 runs) England 29/3 (RR: 4.14)
HH Streak 4-0-12-2 (1w) - Kirkstall Lane End
A Flintoff 3* (4b) MP Vaughan 11* (17b 1x4)
7.1 Hondo to Flintoff, no run, right on target and defended back
Hondo drops the ball running in and jeers from the crowd
7.2 Hondo to Flintoff, no run, a fine ball on off stump and is defended
back
7.3 Hondo to Flintoff, no run, angling in and its turned ff the mddle
stump to short mid wicket
7.4 Hondo to Flintoff, no run, an awayswinger and he probes for it
outside off
7.5 Hondo to Flintoff, no run, beaten again on the off as ball seamed
away
7.6 Hondo to Flintoff, one run, thick edge defending forward to long
leg
End of over 8 (1 run) England 30/3 (RR: 3.75)
DT Hondo 4-0-16-0 (1w) - Football Stand End
A Flintoff 4* (10b) MP Vaughan 11* (17b 1x4)
Just the start Zimbabwe wanted, early wickets that have caused
England to slow down rather than slog in the 25 over match
Blignaut on
8.1 Blignaut to Flintoff, two runs, oopsy! a leading edge from middle
stump as he tried to turn to leg, lands safely
8.2 Blignaut to Flintoff, OUT: wanted to hit a four to leg, but Friend
was right on the square leg rope to accept the offering
England 32/4, Partnership of 19
A Flintoff c Friend b Blignaut 6 (12b 0x4 0x6)
MP Vaughan 11* (17b 1x4) AM Blignaut 0.2-0-2-1
McGrath in for a bat
8.3 Blignaut to Vaughan, no run, beaten as he tries a cut
8.4 Blignaut to Vaughan, one run, steered to third man
8.5 Blignaut to McGrath, no run, outswinger and he is beaten again
trying to get it to third man
8.6 Blignaut to McGrath, two runs, on his legs and its a well timed
turn to mid wicket
End of over 9 (5 runs) England 35/4 (RR: 3.89)
AM Blignaut 1-0-5-1 - Kirkstall Lane End
MP Vaughan 12* (19b 1x4) A McGrath 2* (2b)
Ervine in to bowl
9.1 Ervine to Vaughan, one run, steered to third man
9.2 Ervine to McGrath, one run, driven to deep cover
9.3 Ervine to Vaughan, one run, turned backward of square
9.4 Ervine to McGrath, no run, an outswinger and rather embarrasingly
beaten, ball is singing today, lucky bowlers the batters would say
9.5 Ervine to McGrath, one run, edged to thrd man
9.6 Ervine to Vaughan, two runs, turned off his pads to long leg
End of over 10 (6 runs) England 41/4 (RR: 4.10)
SM Ervine 1-0-6-0 - Football Stand End
A McGrath 4* (5b) MP Vaughan 16* (22b 1x4)
Perfent conditions for seam bowling and the big question is will
thngs be better when Zimbabwe have to bat, the experts feel not
10.1 Blignaut to McGrath, wide: no run, down legside
10.1 Blignaut to McGrath, one run, turned to leg and Blignaut runs and
fields himself
10.2 Blignaut to Vaughan, bye: two runs, an off cutter, and beats Taibu,
a slower ball
10.3 Blignaut to Vaughan, no run, attcking fast ball on off stump, can
only be defended hopping up
10.4 Blignaut to Vaughan, one run, slower ball angling in from wide of
the crease as its turned to mid wicket
10.5 Blignaut to McGrath, one run, short and he stands on his toes to
defend to short third man
10.6 Blignaut to Vaughan, no run, short of length, pulls and msses to
take it on the pads
End of over 11 (6 runs) England 47/4 (RR: 4.27)
AM Blignaut 2-0-9-1 (1w) - Kirkstall Lane End
A McGrath 6* (7b) MP Vaughan 17* (26b 1x4)
11.1 Ervine to McGrath, wide: no run, down leg
11.1 Ervine to McGrath, one run, short and defended to shrt cover for a
scrambled single
11.2 Ervine to Vaughan, no run, on the legs and off the pads to Taibu
who dives and stops runs
11.3 Ervine to Vaughan, wide: no run, down the legside and England have
the fifty up
11.3 Ervine to Vaughan, one run, good bouce on the off as its prodded to
third man
11.4 Ervine to McGrath, one run, flicked to long leg
11.5 Ervine to Vaughan, one run, driven to long off
11.6 Ervine to McGrath, no run, Ugh! right into 'that place' folds up in
agony, not funny at all
End of over 12 (6 runs) England 53/4 (RR: 4.42)
SM Ervine 2-0-12-0 (2w) - Football Stand End
MP Vaughan 19* (29b 1x4) A McGrath 8* (10b)
12.1 Blignaut to Vaughan, no run, good ball on off stump and bowler does
well to prevent it by moving to the ball on the off
12.2 Blignaut to Vaughan, no run, a good cut but Ebrahim pulls f a great
save
Some rai now and umps decide to carry on
12.3 Blignaut to Vaughan, no run, short and he goes back to defend
12.4 Blignaut to Vaughan, no run, defends and sharp fielding out there
putting on the pressure
12.5 Blignaut to Vaughan, one run, turned to long leg, was an off cutter
and a slower ball
12.6 Blignaut to McGrath, no run, fine ball right at hs boots, defended
End of over 13 (1 run) England 54/4 (RR: 4.15)
AM Blignaut 3-0-10-1 (1w) - Kirkstall Lane End
MP Vaughan 20* (34b 1x4) A McGrath 8* (11b)
13.1 Ervine to Vaughan, FOUR, short and its pulled to long leg
13.2 Ervine to Vaughan, legbye: FOUR, drifts to leg and a flick misses,
goes to fine leg off the pads
13.3 Ervine to Vaughan, one run, short and on the legs, turned to long
leg
13.4 Ervine to McGrath, one run, on the legs again and its sent to mid
wicket
13.5 Ervine to Vaughan, one run, on the legs again and turned toleg
13.6 Ervine to McGrath, one run, finally a ball on off stump and its
pushed to cover
End of over 14 (12 runs) England 66/4 (RR: 4.71)
SM Ervine 3-0-20-0 (2w) - Football Stand End
A McGrath 10* (13b) MP Vaughan 26* (38b 2x4)
14.1 Blignaut to McGrath, no run, beaten outside off, probed for it
14.2 Blignaut to McGrath, one run, outside off and a slash gets it to
hondo at third man
14.3 Blignaut to Vaughan, one run, on the stumps and its turned to
square leg
14.4 Blignaut to McGrath, no run, good ball, on the ff, pushed to point
as rain gets a bit heavier now
14.5 Blignaut to McGrath, two runs, angling in and driven to deep cover
14.6 Blignaut to McGrath, no run, slower one outside ff and a jab misses
End of over 15 (4 runs) England 70/4 (RR: 4.67)
AM Blignaut 4-0-14-1 (1w) - Kirkstall Lane End
MP Vaughan 27* (39b 2x4) A McGrath 13* (18b)
If they do go off then this match may result in a no result and
points shared
Gary Brent on now
15.1 Brent to Vaughan, one run, on the stumps and its turned to fine leg
15.2 Brent to McGrath, no run, good line utside off and left alone
15.3 Brent to McGrath, one run, prodded to covers
15.4 Brent to Vaughan, two runs, too far outside off and its slashed to
the cover sweeper
15.5 Brent to Vaughan, no run, right into the stumps and its blocked
15.6 Brent to Vaughan, no run, good slower ball and its prodded to Taibu
behind the stumps
End of over 16 (4 runs) England 74/4 (RR: 4.62)
GB Brent 1-0-4-0 - Football Stand End
A McGrath 14* (20b) MP Vaughan 30* (43b 2x4)
Friend to bowl
16.1 Friend to McGrath, one run, turned to deep square leg
16.2 Friend to Vaughan, FOUR, pitched up and its driven in the air to
the extra cover rope
16.3 Friend to Vaughan, wide: no run, short and down the legside
Umps confer again and it is raining too
Batsmen given the option and they decide o carry on
16.3 Friend to Vaughan, one run, steered to third man
Now more ran and they decide to go off, points shared 3 each and
its a no result sadly
match is abandoned, brief show out there in Leeds and Zimbabwe were
dominant with good bowling conditions to suit their medium pacers
Expectedly Streak was the best with 2 for 13
There is the day night coming up nexton Thursday with England and
South Africa performing at Old Trafford starting 13:30GMT
We'd like to say good bye till then and hope the weather won't
interfere.