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Last Updated: Sunday, 8 June, 2003, 10:22 GMT 11:22 UK
England close out non-contest

By Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

James Anderson looked smooth as silk

England duly wrapped up the Test match, but at least Zimbabwe gave the Riverside full house some value for money by resisting for most of the day.

It was not a contest, of course: that had been snuffed out on the second day when Zimbabwe were skittled out for 94.

But the tourists will take some heart from the fact they made England work a little harder for their wickets second time around.

Fittingly it was Steve Harmison, the Durham fast bowler, who took the final wicket, and how the locals cheered!

It has been a happy occasion with everyone involved in the match here receiving the warmest of welcomes.

It was just a pity, from the spectators' point of view, that there was not more of an edge to the game.

James Anderson was the pick of the bowlers in the second innings. His lovely, economical action is looking smooth as silk and he is capable of surprising the batsmen with some extra pace and bounce.

He chipped away, taking 4-55, and although Hussain brought him back to allow him the chance to take his second five-wicket haul in consecutive Tests, Harmison splattered Hondo's stumps to finish with identical figures.

Hopefully Zimbabwe will have learned from their experience

Curiously Johnson, the hero of yesterday, did not look remotely as dangerous today as yesterday.

He was wicketless in 22 overs, and while that speaks volumes for the unpredictability of Test cricket, he did not, in all honesty, look threatening.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the Test team meets again at Edgbaston in six weeks when Andy Caddick, Matthew Hoggard and, possibly, Darren Gough, could all be fit for selection again.

Zimbabwe have the batting of Tatendu Taibu and Ray Price's bowling to reflect upon with some pride, but their inexperienced team was found horribly wanting for the second time.

Hopefully they will all have learned from their experience, and in Travis Friend, Andy Blignaut and Sean Ervine they appear to have three players who will entertain us in the forthcoming NatWest one-day series.





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Zimbabwe fall short again
06 Jun 03  |  Eng v Zim 2003

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