Hussain: Lights suit Hoggard

Hoggard was far too good for Zimbabwe

Nasser Hussain called Matthew Hoggard a "good white ball bowler" after the England seamer came good in Colombo on Wednesday night.

Hoggard was bowling under lights with England defending a massive score of 298 at the Premadasa Stadium.

But some of his early deliveries were totally unplayable, and Hussain will be hoping for more of the same when Hoggard bowls at India on Sunday.

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Praising the Yorkshire seamer, who took three for 35 in 10 overs, Hussain said: "Hoggard got in the England side through being a very good white ball bowler.

"Under lights when it's swinging Matthew's as good as anyone."

Hussain added: "The batting has been going well in the one-day series in England. We carried that on well here.

"We were probably 10-15 less than we maybe should have got but that was pretty much down to fatigue more than anything and we bowled and fielded well.

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"After a long hard summer to come into this heat has been hard work but it was good to see everyone get a bat and put in a professional performance.

Hussain is already looking forward to Sunday's match against India, with the winners likely to face South Africa in the semi-finals.

"It's going to be a great game. They're in fine form. We've just got to make sure our experienced players get the runs and get the wickets."

It's always going to be hot here so you've got to ease back on the running

Marcus Trescothick

Losing Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak said: "We got outplayed in all three departments of the game.

"Credit to England - they came out and did a good job."

Man-of-the-match Marcus Trescothick hit a brilliant century early in the piece.

After the match, he said: "We've worked out how we're going to work it when we're in the middle running it around.

"It's always going to be hot here so you've got to ease back on the running.

"It was good with the new ball. We got off to a bit of a flyer - it's always important to get above the rate in the first 15 overs."