Cricket: Solanki 100 gives England 3-0 series lead

BULAWAYO - Vikram Solanki smashed a brilliant century to lead England to an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the third one-day international on Saturday.

England overhauled Zimbabwe's 238 for seven in the 44th over to claim the four-match series 3-0.

Solanki scored an imperious 100 off 91 balls with 14 fours and two sixes. Solanki and Ian Bell, who scored 53, put on 138 for the first wicket, a record against Zimbabwe.

England's previous best opening stand against Zimbabwe was 128 shared by Nasser Hussain and Nick Knight in Kimberley in 1999-2000.

Solanki offered chances off consecutive balls on 38 when he was dropped by Christopher Mpofu at mid-off and by Brendan Taylor at short mid-wicket.

England's first-wicket stand ended in the 20th over when Bell was caught behind by wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu off off-spinner Stuart Matsikenyeri.

Solanki was out in the 34th over, four balls after reaching his second century, when he drove a ball from Matsikenyeri to Douglas Hondo at long-off.

Michael Vaughan was 54 not out and Andrew Strauss scored an unbeaten 22 as England coasted home with 6.5 overs to spare.

Matsikenyeri and Dion Ebrahim scored half-centuries to bolster Zimbabwe's total.

Matsikenyeri hit 73 off 97 balls with seven fours and a six, a memorable cut over point off the bowling of seamer Simon Jones.

Ebrahim scored 65, his fourth half-century, off 94 balls.

Taylor and Matsikenyeri made a subdued start to the innings in the face of defensive bowling and fielding by England.

Matsikenyeri and Ebrahim picked up a flagging scoring rate to add 98 runs for the second wicket before Matsikenyeri sent a looping catch to James Anderson at backward point.

Zimbabwe suffered run-outs from consecutive deliveries in the 40th over, and slumped from 164 for two to 165 for four in the process.

- REUTERS