ENGLAND began New Year's Day as they would hope to carry on in the coming year. Unfortunately for them they ended it as they most probably will. Zimbabwe were 38-4 and 126-7 after being put into bat and England needed 57 from the last 10 overs with six wickets in hand but come the closing overs they did not remotely look the likely winners.
Where did it go wrong? Hard to say. It was difficult enough for those concerned to decide on the exact margin of their defeat after the experimental Duckworth-Lewis method (for use when targets need to be revised in rain- affected one-day matches) had to be implemented for the first time.
In the end, it was provisionally concluded that England had lost by "five runs (on a revised target)." Zimbabwe, you see, could not possibly have been declared the winners "on a faster scoring rate" because, in fact, they had actually scored slower. It could only happen to England.
"Those are the rules, we just get on with it," said captain Mike Atherton. After Zimbabwe were dismissed for 200, rain prevented play until 45 minutes after the interval. The umpires ruled that eight overs had been lost and following consultation with the England scorer Malcolm Ashton, only 15 runs were reduced from England's target.
However, to use that as a significant reason for England's defeat would miss the point. England simply lacked the self belief and self discipline to win. Chasing their revised target of 185 in 42 overs, they set off as if they had just 24 in hand. Nick Knight unsuccessfully tried to slog Brandes and was comfortably taken at mid off. Stewart tried the same and escaped. That was a relief for him and the crowd who he then treated to a delightful cameo. There were six perfectly timed boundaries in his 41 made from 37 balls before he guided a catch to the wicket keeper.
It did not seem to matter. Crawley, promoted at last following his impressive performances at number six, pulled Whittal into the crowd and was progressing untroubled. But not for the first time the introduction of leg-spin left England fumbling.
Hussain's scratchy innings was ended by Whittal but Atherton, having relegated himself to number five, was just beginning to rediscover some fluency when he pulled a long-hop from Strang to long-on. Crawley was stumped by an inside edge and pad and Irani, short of practise and know-how against the wrist-spinner, charged down the pitch and was also stumped.
At the presentation ceremony raucus Zimbabwean supporters massed in front of the pavilion chanting; "We want Lloyd." The England coach's assertion after the drawn Bulawayo Test that, "we flippin' murdered them," really rankles here and will not be forgotten in a hurry. After drawing the Test series Zimbabwe have come up with a perfect retort.
They have now won their first ever one day series. "They are committed players. They deserve their success," said Lloyd on this occasion. He could not really say anything else.
Earlier, within 45 minutes of the 9.30 start, Gough and Mullally had lopped the head off Zimbabwe's batting. Waller drove carelessly, Grant Flower too firmly, and Houghton skied to mid-on. Only Campbell, who appeared unlucky to given out caught behind, could be excused.
Craig Evans began the recovery. Andy Flower - who was dropped on 15 by Darren Gough at deep backward square leg - and Heath Streak continued it.
