BBC SPORT | Special Events | England in Zimbabwe

One-day international, Harare: England 196-2 (37.3 overs) beat Zimbabwe 195 all out (49.1 overs) by eight wickets

Nick Knight hit an unbeaten half century to guide England to their second successive victory against Zimbabwe with more than 12 overs to spare at the Harare Sports Club.

England captain Nasser Hussain also scored 50, following his 73 in the first match, before falling to a dubious lbw decision with the victory post in sight.

Knight also scored his second successive half century with his 82 not out off 102 balls including eight fours hard on the heels of his 50.

Zimbabwe were never in the match and looked lacklustre as they slipped to their ninth successive one-day defeat.

Marcus Trescothick set England off to a flyer chasing a moderate target, plundering some wayward early Zimbabwe bowling for six fours in a 35-ball 46 before slashing a Gary Brent delivery to gully.

Perfect yorker

England were unfazed by his dismissal with Hussain and Knight putting on 112 for the second wicket, picking runs off at will.

Hussain was lucky to survive a caught behind appeal when a Dirk Viljoen ball clearly hit his glove as he attempted a reverse sweep, the same stroke that caused his downfall on Wednesday.

But when he eventually departed Knight carried his bat during a patient innings to finish the job off with Mark Ramprakash.

Nick Knight
Khight played a patient innings

Man-of-the-match Matthew Hoggard led the charge as England's bowlers took advantage of some reckless Zimbabwe batting despite Streak winning the toss and electing to bat.

Hoggard struck in the seventh over when Guy Whittall chopped a ball into his stumps.

But he saved the best for Andy Flower, producing a perfect yorker to bowl Zimbabwe's dangerman for just six runs.

Alistair Campbell and Stuart Carlisle put on 43 for the third wicket, but Campbell fell one short of his half century when he top edged an attempted paddle off a Ben Hollioake delivery to midwicket.

Campbell's wicket was one of a rash of needless dismissals as Zimbabwe's batsmen self-destructed when well set.

Nasser Hussain
Hussain hit a second half century

Carlisle was on 40 when he gifted Ramprakash another surprise wicket, sweeping straight to Trescothick at deep fine leg.

Hoggard came back to claim his third wicket off the final delivery of his 10 overs for figures of 3-37 as Craig Wishart tried to hit him out of the ground but found Graham Thorpe at long-off after scoring 34.

Wishart's dismissal sparked a dramatic collapse as Zimbabwe lost five wickets for 19 runs and Jeremy Snape claimed another brace of wickets.

Wrapped up

Pinch hitter Brent made little impression before spooning Snape to James Kirtley and Grant Flower holed out to midwicket.

Ben Hollioake took his fourth wicket in 16 one-day internationals by bowling Streak and Andy Flintoff got in on the act by having Ebrahim caught by James Foster.

Viljoen and Mluleki Nkala batted sensibly to add 24 for the final wicket but Kirtley wrapped things up by bowling Viljoen in the 50th over.

England's fielding was better with three direct hits on the stumps, but Foster blotted his copybook again by dropping Whittall early on off the bowling of Kirtley.

The England bowler was impressive again and showed no signs of nerves after his action was called into question following the first match.

Zimbabwe: H Streak (capt), A Campbell, G Whittall, A Flower, S Carlisle, C Wishart, G Flower, D Ebrahim, M Nkala, D Viljoen, G Brent.

England: N Hussain (capt), M Trescothick, N Knight, M Ramprakash, G Thorpe, A Flintoff, B Hollioake, J Snape, J Foster, J Kirtley, M Hoggard.