The 2000 NatWest Series was a One Day Internationalcricket 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.
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.[5]
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.[7]
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.[8]
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.[9]
