Scorecard

Grant Flower hit a gritty 96 not out as Zimbabwe beat England in a tense opening match of a triangular one-day international series on Thursday.

Zimbabwe had lost their last nine one-dayers in a row against England, but Flower mastered a dry, cracking pitch at Trent Bridge to steer his side home by four wickets with two overs to spare.

He made almost half his side's runs, sealing the result with a cover-drive for four off Ashley Giles. He won the man of the match award for his effort.

There was also cause for celebration for captain Heath Streak, who returned figures of two for 30 to become the first Zimbabwean to take 200 one-day international wickets.

The game was an unpredictable affair, England beginning superbly and finishing poorly to struggle to 191 for eight after being put in.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, outclassed in the Test series against their hosts, began horribly but then fought back to win comfortably.

They looked doomed after collapsing to 15 for four in the 10th over against fast bowlers Richard Johnson and Darren Gough, only for Flower to rebuild the reply with the dashing Stuart Matsikenyeri (44) during a 96-run stand.

NON-EXISTENT SINGLE

Flower, who hit 10 fours in 152 balls, ran out Streak, sending him back after setting off for a non-existent single, to leave the team on 143 for six in the 41st over, but there were to be no further alarms.

The Zimbabweans were so delighted with their performance that they set off on a lap of honour.

England's best performances came from debutant seamer Johnson, who picked up a wicket with his second ball -- he took two wickets in the first over of his Test debut against the same opposition -- before finishing with three for 32.

All rounder Andrew Flintoff, meanwhile, had top-scored with 53 for the home side during their innings, while opener Marcus Trescothick had hit eight fours during a run-a-ball 38.

The rest of the England middle-order, however, looked bemused against some tight but unspectacular spin bowling as the Zimbabweans opted to take the pace off the ball.

Robert Key, making his debut in place of the axed James Troughton, looked out of touch as he made 11 while Anthony McGrath appeared just as incapable of rotating the strike, scoring 14 from 42 deliveries.

South Africa are the other side in the tournament and open against England at The Oval on Saturday.