The first to go was Alistair Campbell (2) bowled by Hoggard in just the 4th over of the innings. The runs did not exactly flow for the Zimbabweans and wickets fell at regular intervals.

Grant Flower, defending well for 7, got into one such stroke too early, played slightly inside the line of a swinging delivery and was easily caught in the slips by Marcus Trescothick.

With Hoggard bowling well from the Khettarama End, Hussain allowed him bowl his full complement of 10 overs on the trot. The big hearted mediumpacer handled the task admirably, not flagging even in the humid conditions under lights. He was soon rewarded with a third wicket.

Dion Ebrahim, unconvincing yet at least holding one end up, struck one good boundary straight back down the wicket but soon got too ambitious and on 20 drove across the line and was caught at mid on by Ian Blackwell.

Andy Flower then came to the wicket and began the unenviable task of rebuilding the innings. The lone warrior was on 39 and Zimbabwe were 90/3 at the 25-over mark.

There was no respite at all for the Zimbabwe bowlers who toiled hard on a hotter than usual day. Perhaps the conditions had something to do with the fact that Alistair Campbell kept wickets for 28 overs before handing over the gloves to regular 'keeper Andy Flower.

A supremely confident Nasser Hussain batted intelligently through his 112 minute stay at the wicket. Hussain, in the last match he played, against India in the final of the NatWest series, made a career best 115. That knock, Hussain's maiden one-day ton is famous for the manner in which he showed the television commentary box the number 3 on his back, gesticulating animatedly and proving that he can bat well at that position.

Today was a completely different day and a suitably different Hussain as well. There was none of the desperateness Hussain showed against India and the passion, if it was there, was well hidden. Both when reaching his half-century and when he was dismissed, Hussain showed little emotion. Striking 75 off 97 balls, the captain helped add 141 for the second wicket. He was clean bowled by Streak, attempting to heave the ball to the on side.

Even the fall of Hussain's wicket did not dent the England run rate. Trescothick knocked the bowling around a fair bit, including one dramatic heave over midwicket off Grant Flower that landed several rows back in the stands. His 119 (102 balls, 11 fours, 2 sixes) was the backbone of the England innings. This knock makes it back to back tons for Trescothick, who made 109 in the NatWest final against India.

Eventually Trescothick was accounted for by Grant Flower as the batsman made room to play the ball through the on side and was bowled. By that stage 38.3 overs had been sent down and England were poised to explode at 224/4.

Ian Blackwell, making his debut, hit one clean six off Grant Flower but could not last long, making 16 nervous runs before tickling Streak to Andy Flower behind the stumps. As is so often the case, England lost a few quick wickets as batsmen tried to push the scoring rate without quite getting set. Douglas Hondo making full use of this, ended with figures of 6-0-44-4. Nevertheless, England reached 298/8, and will have to bowl extremely badly to lose this game from here.

Zimbabwe, in taking so much time to get through their overs, have only 48 overs from which they have to score 299.

Nick Knight too looked in good touch, using the width of the crease well. Moving around nimbly Knight made the bowlers change their line of attack. All the usual Knight innovations were on display, the chips over the off side, the dabs to the on side.

Douglas Hondo, who bowled so well against India to claim four wickets found the going much harder. Smacked for 14 runs with three boundaries in his second and fifth overs the mediumpacer struggled till he dismissed Knight. Against the run of play Knight (8) poked at one outside the off and the ball ran off the inside edge back onto the stumps.

England lost their first wicket in just the sixth over, but 46 runs were already on the board.

Nasser Hussain (batting 55), usually a nervous starter struck the ball off the meat of the bat from the word go. Getting his front foot well down the wicket the England captain was able to pick off the mediumpacers through the on side at will. He too brought up his half-century, off a more sedate 64 balls as England made steady progress.

In the company of Hussain Trescothick went from strength to strength. The most dramatic shot of the day came in the 22nd over when the southpaw slog swept offie Douglas Marillier for six over deep backward square. There was a man fielding on the boundary in that very spot, but Trescothick went for the stroke anyway and cleared the ropes effortlessly.

Mpumelelo Mbangwa, bowling a tidy line and length bowled eight overs on the trot, conceding just 33 runs in that spell.

The 'pool of death', or group of interest as it is alternatively dubbed, still holds the rapt attention of fans.

Unfortunately,though, there's been another disappointing turn out at the R Premadasa Stadium, although the crowd may swell during during the course of the day as the lights come on and people finish work.

England won the toss and, unsurprisingly,have elected to bat first on a wicket that looks full of runs. With the track expected to slow down as the match progresses, England look set to enjoy the best of the batting conditions.

However, this will not deter Zimbabwe who chased brilliantly against India, nearly pulling off a dramatic win after Andy Flower scored a career best 145.

The Zimbabweans have made one change to the team that played against India, bringing in Mpumelelo Mbangwa in place of Sean Ervine.

For England Rikki Clarke, Ashley Giles and James Kirtley are the trio that warm the bench.

Teams: England: Nasser Hussain, Ian Blackwell, Andy Caddick, Dominic Cork, Matthew Hoggard, Ronnie Irani, Nick Knight, Owais Shah, Jeremy Snape, Alec Stewart, Marcus Trescothick.

Zimbabwe: Heath Streak, Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Douglas Hondo, Douglas Marillier, Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Guy Whittall, Ray Price.