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Beaten Zimbabwe find consolation

Warwickshire (171) bt Zimbabwe (106) by 65 runs

Zimbabwe could take considerable consolation from their final warm-up match despite a second trouncing, since their out-cricket and catching is of a high enough standard to suggest these two crucial ingredients of the limited overs game will make them effective.

Their problems at Edgbaston were caused by typically English spring conditions which allowed Tim Munton, Graeme Welch and Gladstone Small to move the ball lavishly and, not surprisingly for a side who have played half their 112 one-day games on the sub-continent, the batting could not come to terms with such a stiff examination.

But Warwickshire's innings was equally flawed and Eddow Brandes and Neil Johnson with the new ball, aided by top-class fielding and catching, had half the home side out for 41 after they chose to bat first.

David Hemp, the left-hander, was unfortunate to crack a full-blooded drive wide of extra cover only for Murray Goodwin to fly to his left and cling on to a stunning catch. Brandes, 36, the burly chicken farmer, proved equally agile, holding a leading edge return catch from Trevor Penney.

But Dougie Brown and Welch steadied the ship and Henry Olonga took a battering as the partnership yielded 70 in 18 overs. A brace of sixes by Tony Frost gave Warwickshire's innings late respectability.

Learning their lesson from the previous game at Derby, Zimbabwe tried to bat with more patience and run the ball into gaps, but Welch kept it up with sufficient movement away from the bat to preclude any heroics.

The experienced Munton produced a beauty to account for Neil Johnson and Tony Frost - keeping wicket instead of Keith Piper - held a superb leg-side catch to be rid of Andy Flower, and every time progress was attempted the wickets fell.

Ashley Giles's clever left-arm spin and a fine spell from Small ensured there would be no revival, yet the Africans can look forward to facing Kenya in their opener at Taunton with more optimism than bare figures would suggest.