Confident England Brush Zimbabwe Aside
By Paul Bakel
May 25 2003
England started their summer in fine style as they thrashed Zimbabwe by an innings and 92 runs in the first Test at Lord's.
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England started their
summer in fine style as they thrashed Zimbabwe by an innings and 92 runs
in the first Test at Lord's. After his 137 in England's innings, man-of-the-match Mark Butcher was
the unexpected hero with the ball in Zimbabwe's second innings, finishing
with four wickets for 60 with his usually modest medium pace. Debutant Anthony McGrath also took three wickets as Zimbabwe's second
innings withered to 233 all out as the light faded on the third day. Fellow Test debut-maker James Anderson failed to take a wicket in the
second innings, but registered five for 73 in the first innings to get his
name on to the Long Room honours board. It was that spell which inspired Nasser Hussain's men, who took 19
wickets during the day. Mark Vermeulen was the only one to offer any stoicism as Zimbabwe
attempted to avoid an innings defeat. He made 61 from 81 balls in the second innings, although there was an
entertaining cameo at the end from Raymond Price, who thrashed a
run-a-ball 26. Having resumed the third day on 48 for one, Zimbabwe were shot out for
a paltry 147, 10 overs after lunch, and some 325 behind on first innings. Matthew Hoggard finished with figures of three for 24 in the first
innings with only Dion Ebrahim (68) offering any resistance. Zimbabwe lost their last nine wickets for 83 as England made good use
of a receptive surface and swinging ball. Anderson finished the innings
with four for five in 14 balls.
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