Emphatic Test win for England

England celebrate as Mbangwa is Zimbabwe's last man out

England claimed an easy first Test win against Zimbabwe at Lord's - beating them by an innings and 209 runs.

Zimbabwe were no match for England's on fire bowlers and were all out for an embarrassing 123 - despite a fightback by Bryan Strang and Guy Whittall.

Zimbabwe are officially classed as the worst team in the world and their performance at Lord's proved as much.

A Darren Gough delivery shakes up Bryan Strang

England are supposed to be the second worst but they highlighted this could well be a false position.

However they have got to make sure they do not get carried away as the Tests against the West Indies later in the summer will be a totally different experience.

But it was an impressive display by England, claiming their first victory by more than an innings since New Zealand at Trent Bridge in 1994.

Even though much of the match was washed away by the rain England still managed an emphatic win on the fourth day.

They now head confidently to Nottingham for the second Test against Zimbabwe.

Hussain and Zimbabwe's Johnson frolic in the rain

England's victory was down to solid bowling by Andy Caddick, Darren Gough and Ed Giddins and top batting from Graeme Hick and Alex Stewart who both scored centuries.

The fourth day's play was delayed until after lunch but it took England only 10 minutes to claim their first wicket.

Andy Caddick soon got his second wicket of the innings, when Neil Johnson edged a shot for an easy catch at second slip for Graeme Hick.

Frustrated

Hick's safe pair of hands caught Guy Whittall on 23 for Caddick's third wicket.

He claimed his fourth when last batsman Pommie Mbangwa was bowled for eight runs.

Guy Whittall and Bryan Strang had frustrated England's attempt at an even quicker victory, with Strang ending the match unbeaten on 37 after hitting Gough for six.

Stewart salutes the crowd after his ton

In between Man of the Match Ed Giddins had claimed two wickets as he got Brian Murphy plumb lbw on 14 runs and Heath Streak was out for a duck, after a superb catch by Nick Knight.

Zimbabwe had in effect lost the first Test by the end of Saturday's play when they were reduced to 39-5.

They were replying to England's first innings total of 415.

England had piled on the runs in reply to Zimbabwe's poor first innings total of 83 all out with impressive centuries from Graeme Hick and Alec Stewart.

It was Hick's first ton at Lord's but he had no time to celebrate as he was out the very next ball, caught lbw from some superb bowling from Heath Streak.

Streak's outstanding figures of six for 87 reflected a tremendous job for his country.

But it was not enough as Streak's batsmen let him down.

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Zimbabwe second innings:
B A Murphy lbw b Giddins 14
N C Johnson c Hick b Caddick 9
G J Whittall c Hick b Caddick 23
H H Streak c Knight b Giddins 0
B C Strang not out 37
M Mbangwa b Caddick 8
Extras lb1 nb7 8
Total (38.2 overs) 123

England first innings
M A Atherton lbw b Streak 55
M R Ramprakash lbw b Streak 15
N Hussain c Murphy b Streak 10
G A Hick lbw b Streak 101
A J Stewart not out 124
N V Knight c Johnson b Whittall 44
A Flintoff c Streak b Whittall 1
C P Schofield c Johnson b Whittall 0
A R Caddick c A Flower b Streak 13
D Gough c Campbell b Murphy 5
E S H Giddins c Strang b Streak 7
Extras b5 lb29 w1 nb5 40

Total (135.5 overs) 415