The 2000 NatWest Series was a One Day International cricket tournament that took place in England between 6 and 22 July 2000. It was a tri-nation series involving England, West Indies and Zimbabwe. Ten matches were played in total, with each team playing one another thrice during the group stage, and the top two teams advancing to the finals. In the final, England defeated Zimbabwe at Lord's on 22 July 2000 by seven wickets to win the title.
Background
The Zimbabwe team played in a two Test match series against England in May-June 2000, which was won by England. The West Indies was scheduled to play five tests against England in the Frank Worrell series between June and August 2000. In the midst of the test series between England West Indies, a tri-nation One Day International series involving the England, West Indies and Zimbabwe was scheduled, sponsored by the National Westminster Bank.
Venues
Eight venues across England were used for the series with the final played at Lord's.
Squads
Fixtures
Ten matches were played in total, with each team playing one another thrice during the group stage, and the top two teams advancing to the finals.
Group stage
Zimbabwe topped the group stage with four wins from six matches. England finished in second place with seven points, and qualified for the finals to face Zimbabwe.
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | No Result | Points | NRR |
|---|
| Zimbabwe | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | -0.276 |
| England | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0.985 |
| West Indies | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | -0.700 |
Matches
In the group stage, Zimbabwe won its first three matches to top the table during the early fixtures. After its initial loss to Zimbabwe and a no result against West Indies, England came back to win its next three matches to be placed second. West Indies never really took off in the series, lost all its matches with Zimbabwe, and scored a lone victory in the last dead rubber against England.
| West Indies 232/7 (50 overs) | v | Zimbabwe 233/4 (45 overs) |
| Brian Lara 60 (63) Grant Flower 2/27 (6 overs) | | Neil Johnson 95* (128) Franklyn Rose 2/50 (10 overs) |
| Zimbabwe won by 6 wicketsBristol County Ground, Bristol Umpires: Peter Willey (Eng) and Jeremy Lloyds (Eng) Player of the match: Neil Johnson (ZIM) |
- West Indies won the toss and elected to bat.
- *Points: Zimbabwe 2, West Indies 0.
| England 207 (50 overs) | v | Zimbabwe 210/5 (48.2 overs) |
| Marcus Trescothick 79 (102) Grant Flower 3/9 (3 overs) | | Alistair Campbell 80 (136) Andy Caddick 2/27 (10 overs) |
| Zimbabwe won by 5 wicketsThe Oval, London Umpires: Ken Palmer (Eng) and David Shepherd (Eng) Player of the match: Alistair Campbell (ZIM) |
- England won the toss and elected to bat.
- Marcus Trescothick (ENG) made his ODI debut.
- Points: Zimbabwe 2, England 0.
| No resultLord's, London Umpires: Ken Palmer (Eng) and Ray Julian (Eng) |
- West Indies won the toss and elected to field.
- *Points: England 1, West Indies 1.
| Zimbabwe 256/4 (50 overs) | v | West Indies 186/8 (50 overs) |
| Guy Whittall 83 (111) Franklyn Rose 2/47 (10 overs) | | Nixon McLean 50* (70) Neil Johnson 2/16 (6 overs) |
| Zimbabwe won by 70 runsSt Lawrence Ground, Canterbury Umpires: Ray Julian (Eng) and Barry Dudleston (Eng) Player of the match: Guy Whittall (ZIM) |
- West Indies won the toss and elected to field.
- *Points: Zimbabwe 2, West Indies 0.
| Zimbabwe 114 (38.4 overs) | v | England 115/2 (20.3 overs) |
| Andy Flower 28 (57) Marcus Trescothick 2/7 (1.4 overs) | | Andrew Flintoff 42* (45) Heath Streak 2/32 (6 overs) |
| England won by 8 wicketsOld Trafford, Manchester Umpires: George Sharp (Eng) and John Holder (Eng) Player of the match: Andrew Flintoff (ENG) |
- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat.
- *Points: England 2, Zimbabwe 0.
| West Indies 169/8 (50 overs) | v | England 171/0 (35.2 overs) |
| Brian Lara 54 (101) Alan Mullally 3/27 (10 overs) | | Marcus Trescothick 87* (107) |
| England won by 10 wicketsRiverside Ground, Chester-le-Street Umpires: George Sharp (Eng) and John Hampshire (Eng) Player of the match: Marcus Trescothick (ENG) |
- England won the toss and elected to field.
- *Points: England 2, West Indies 0.
| West Indies 287/5 (50 overs) | v | Zimbabwe 290/4 (49.1 overs) |
| Sherwin Campbell 105 (137) Dirk Viljoen 3/75 (10 overs) | | Murray Goodwin 112* (137) Mervyn Dillon 2/52 (10 overs) |
| Zimbabwe won by 6 wicketsRiverside Ground, Chester-le-Street Umpires: John Holder (Eng) and John Hampshire (Eng) Player of the match: Murray Goodwin (ZIM) |
- West Indies won the toss and elected to bat.
- Mahendra Nagamootoo (WIN) made his ODI debut.
- Points: Zimbabwe 2, West Indies 0.
| England 262/8 (50 overs) | v | Zimbabwe 210/9 (50 overs) |
| Alec Stewart 101 (144) Heath Streak 3/59 (10 overs) | | Alistair Campbell 60 (95) Craig White 3/34 (8 overs) |
| England won by 52 runsEdgbaston, Birmingham Umpires: Mervyn Kitchen (Eng) and David Constant (Eng) Player of the match: Alec Stewart (ENG) |
- England won the toss and elected to bat.
- *Points: England 2, Zimbabwe 0.
| West Indies 195/9 (50 overs) | v | England 192 (49.5 overs) |
| Chris Gayle 37 (71) Craig White 3/35 (10 overs) | | Alec Stewart 100* (147) Reon King 3/30 (10 overs) |
| West Indies won by 3 runsTrent Bridge, Nottingham Umpires: Mervyn Kitchen (Eng) and Barrie Leadbeater (Eng) Player of the match: Chris Gayle (WIN) |
- England won the toss and elected to field.
- Ramnaresh Sarwan (WIN) and Paul Franks (Eng) made their ODI debuts.
- Points: West Indies 2, England 0.
Final
In the final held at Lord's on 22 July 2000, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first. Zimbabwe lost three quick wickets within the first few overs with Darren Gough taking two. After Andy Caddick bowled Neil Johnson, Andy and Grant Flower steadied the innings with Grant top scoring with 53 runs. Zimbabwe finished with a paltry total of 169 runs in the allocated 50 overs. While England lost two quick wickets in the chase, Alec Stewart and Graham Hick combined for a partnership of 134 runs to take England closer to victory. England won the match in the 46th over with six wickets to spare.
| Zimbabwe 169/7 (50 overs) | v | England 170/4 (45.2 overs) |
| Grant Flower 53* (102) Darren Gough 3/20 (10 overs) | | Alec Stewart 97 (123) Heath Streak 3/30 (10 overs) |
| England won by 6 wicketsLord's Cricket Ground, London Umpires: David Shepherd (Eng) and Peter Willey (Eng) Player of the match: Alec Stewart (Eng) |
- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat.
- England won the 2000 NatWest Series.
Stewart was awarded the Man of the Match in the final and Man of the Series awards.
External links