Zimbabwe v Pakistan

At Bulawayo, March 4, 2003. No result. Toss: Pakistan.

The fate of three teams, scrapping for one place in the Super Six, hinged on the outcome here, and after persistent drizzle limited play to just 14 overs, it was Zimbabwe who emerged smiling. England would almost certainly have qualified had Pakistan won. Pakistan themselves had a faint hope, which rested on winning by a margin large enough to overhaul England's vastly superior net run-rate. But, in the event, Zimbabwe picked up two points for the no-result and pulled clear in third place. While they celebrated a spot in the second phase for the second World Cup in a row, England and Pakistan were left to rue the controversial decision not to set aside a reserve day for group matches. When Pakistan chose to bat, they needed at least 300 to give themselves a remote chance but by the second over the rain had arrived. Then, with Pakistan 73 for three, the players were driven off for the third, and final, time. The miserable Inzamam-ul-Haq was one of the batsmen to fall; he ended the competition with 19 runs in six innings. Nasser Hussain responded to England's elimination by resigning the one-day captaincy.

Attendance: 3,964.