Flower and Price shine for Zimbabwe at Chelmsford

The Zimbabweans will start the NatWest Series in much better heart after an adequate, rather than dominating, five-wicket victory over Essex at Chelmsford. Ray Price excelled with the ball while Grant Flower overshadowed his brother - and opponent - Andy to make sure of victory with the bat.

The most pleasing aspect for Zimbabwe was their bowling performance, which, with a little help from the overcast and humid conditions, was their best of the tour. For once extras were rare as line and length was consistent. Nasser Hussain, playing and missing, continued to struggle for runs and took 38 balls to reach double figures, as Darren Robinson did most of the early scoring for Essex.

Hussain then fell to a senseless run-out in the sixteenth over (56 for 1), and Price followed that with three quick wickets. First he found a bit of turn and bounce to have Robinson (37) caught by the wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu (68 for 2), and two balls later he trapped Aftab Habib lbw for a duck with his arm ball. Shortly afterwards Ronnie Irani gave Price his third wicket when he drove a low catch to midwicket to leave Essex struggling at 71 for 4 in the 24th over.

That led the way for the strange sight of Andy Flower - captain for the day - walking to the wicket wearing the glaring Essex Eagles uniform rather than the Zimbabwe red. However, he brought some much-needed stability to the innings as he had done so often for the Zimbabweans.

Travis Friend continued to bowl with more fire and control than at any previous time on tour, troubling Ravi Bopara and eventually having him fending a vicious lifter off his face to be caught by Taibu for 18 (118 for 5). And that performance may well have booked Friend's place in the opening NatWest Series match after a disastrous bowling record for most of this tour.

James Middlebrook settled in impressively while Flower played a typically accumulative innings, working the ball around the field so skilfully and unobtrusively that the unaware would miss it. But after passing his fifty, he was run out for 52 after fine work in the field by Richie Sims as he attempted a third run (154 for 6).

There was little fight in the tail, and two suicidal run-outs were more reminiscent of the village green than first-class cricket. Much credit belongs to Middlebrook who made a valuable unbeaten 42, but Essex never recovered from Price's three top-order wickets.

Chasing only 190, Zimbabwe soon lost Dion Ebrahim, caught at first slip off Tony Palladino (13 for 1), but Douglas Marillier cashed in against some erratic Essex bowling and the fifty came up in the eighth over. Then Friend, doing his frequent job as a pinch-hitter, soon got into his stride, and Zimbabwe were on their way.

Friend made 44, including 10 fours, before being bowled playing down the wrong line to Middlebrook (91 for 3). Richie Sims and Grant Flower then settled in to play quietly and without difficulty, until Sims (18) fished at a ball from Palladino to be caught by Andy Flower behind the stumps (123 for 4). And when Stuart Matsikenyeri was also caught behind off Grant for 11 (138 for 5), Essex sniffed they were in with a chance of a surprise victory.

However, Grant Flower was determined to be there at the end and he took no chances while occasionally unleashing a handsome drive through the covers as his 50 came off 65 balls. It was a welcome return to form for Flower, and a welcome win for Zimbabwe ahead of their match against England on June 26.