Nottinghamshire fought gamely in their one-day match against Zimbabwe before going down by 5 wickets as the tourists warmed up for the forthcoming Tri-Nations Series against England and West Indies.

Put in to bat Notts reached 207 before being bowled out in the final over of their innings with opener Guy Welton being the last man out for a splendid 94.

Craig Wishart and Guy Whittall got the Zimbabwean reply off to an explosive start as they rattled up 19 runs in the first 3 overs. Wishart in particular looked in fine form until David Lucas, in an expensive opening burst, managed to find the blockhole and bowl him for 16.

New batsman Murray Goodwin must have relished the prospect of a return to Trent Bridge having hit a century against England on the ground last month had to play second fiddle for a while. Whittall was dropped by Read on 9 but then set about the bowling crashing Tolley over midwicket for 6 to add to a couple of spanking pulls off Mark Bowen.

With the score on 69 Notts picked up their second wicket thanks to a brilliant boundary catch by Usman Afzaal. Goodwin had hit Tolley to deep square leg but diving at full length Afzaal clutched the ball inches from the rope.

Whittall’s entertaining knock camc to an end shortly aFterwards following the introduction of Andy Harris into the attack from the Pavilion End. A mistimed pull looped for an easy catch to Chris Read. The tourists were momentarily rocking at 79—3 and their snoring rate dropped alarmingly as Alastair Campbell found himself marooned on 1 for 11 overs.

Andy Flower, though, was going along nicely until Richard Stemp trapped him lbw for 26 to make it 114-4. Grant Flower added 13 before being dismissed Giles Haywood’s first over. That brought Neil Johnson to the crease and he rapidly took the contest away from Notts, crashing four boundaries in an over off Richard Stemp on his way to 40 out of a 50 stand with Camphell.

Zimbabwe reached their target with more than eight overs to spare.