Alec Stewart scored his first England one-day century for two-and-a-half years as Zimbabwe were set a 263 target in the one-day triangular series day-night clash at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
Stewart justified fit-again skipper Nasser Hussain's decision to bat on a cracked pitch as England overcame a mid-innings blip - caused by Zimbabwe all-rounder Neil Johnson - to post an imposing 262 for eight from their 50 overs.
The Surrey batsman raced to his third hundred for his country in limited-overs cricket in his 130th international off 142 balls with the aid of eight boundaries.
The previous one had been achieved against India in the Sharjah Trophy in December 1997 when Stewart achieved his England-best 116.
Stewart has not always been a success in one-day cricket and this was the first time he had scored successive 50s for England since March 1998.
But his latest effort, which followed his unbeaten 74 against West Indies, was invaluable in what is a dress rehearsal for Saturday's final between the two countries at Lord's – (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
