A brief taste of Twentyfive25 cricket

Chris Read is run out by a direct hit, as England struggle before the rains return

On a day of frustration, with bad weather postponing the start until 3.50pm, Headingley was briefly given a taste of the Twenty20 Cup - or Twentyfive25 to be precise. But after a futile attempt to defy the elements, the match was called off in the 17th over of England's effort, just as the local boys Michael Vaughan and Anthony McGrath were repairing a dreadful start to the innings. The competition rules state that no contest can take place over less than 25 overs a side, so even the briefest of interruptions would have been curtains.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, England slumped to 32 for 4 in typically zippy Headingley conditions, including three in the space of eight deliveries, before Vaughan and McGrath added 49 for the fifth wicket to save their blushes. Vaughan, who by the close was batting as fluently as he has all summer, was disappointed to be forced off by the umpires, shortly after turning down an offer for bad light. But after the start England had made, he was probably secretly quite pleased.

In England's previous match, against South Africa at The Oval, Vikram Solanki and Marcus Trescothick had added 200 for the first wicket. This time, however, they lasted three overs between them. Heath Streak, finding the perfect line and a hint of movement, dismissed them both in his second over, thanks to a pair of blinding catches from Grant Flower.

First to go was Solanki, who had launched one fleet-footed drive over the covers off Doug Hondo, but then attempted to work Streak through the leg side and skewed a thick edge to Flower in the gully for 8 (11 for 1). And then, four balls later, Trescothick attempted to cut a wide delivery that seamed back towards him, and Flower again scooped a brilliant low chance to his right (12 for 2).

Chris Read had been an unlikely choice as a pinch-hitter, but he lasted all of four deliveries. He pushed Hondo towards mid-on and hared off for a quick single, but Gary Brent swooped and pinged down the stumps at the non-striker's end (13 for 3).

Andrew Flintoff and Vaughan attempted to repair the damage, although with the ball moving every which way but loose, batting was a real struggle. Vaughan, on 11, came perilously close to being nailed lbw by Streak, but the next man to fall was Flintoff, who pulled Andy Blignaut towards the boundary, but only managed to swat him down the throat of Travis Friend at midwicket (32 for 4).

Slowly but surely, England steadied the ship, and were looking set for a competitive total when the heavens opened once again.

England 1 Marcus Trescothick, 2 Vikram Solanki, 3 Michael Vaughan, 4 Andrew Flintoff, 5 Anthony McGrath, 6 Jim Troughton, 7 Chris Read, 8 Kabir Ali, 9 Richard Johnson, 10 Darren Gough, 11 James Anderson.

Zimbabwe 1 Doug Marillier, 2 Dion Ebrahim, 3 Travis Friend, 4 Grant Flower, 5 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 6 Andy Blignaut, 7 Heath Streak (capt), 8 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 9 Sean Ervine, 10 Gary Brent, 11 Doug Hondo.