By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

Although a rather rusty England won the opening one-day international, the day was a triumph for cricket in Zimbabwe.

Around 3,000 fans cheered Zimbabwe's young side

At least 3,000 supporters revelled in the sunshine, creating a festive atmosphere while, behind the stands, children of all races happily played games of cricket together.

There were no political intrusions of any kind - no banners or chants, and certainly no signs of a potentially awkward visit by the Zimbabwe Cricket patron Robert Mugabe.

All of this occurred with barely discernible security presence.

Seventy percent of the crowd was black, which is remarkable when you consider that even club cricket in Zimbabwe 20 years ago was almost entirely whites-only.

Any hopes Tatenda Taibu's young side had of causing an upset were snuffed out by Ian Bell and Michael Vaughan

The young Zimbabwean team tried their best but, clearly, the gulf between them and an established international team remains, and this could yet affect their Test status.

At one stage they were 90-5, and had they not been rescued by a stand of 82 between Elton Chigumbura and Dion Ebrahim, they might have been skittled.

England's bowling was a little erratic - hardly surprising given their lack of cricket since the season ended in September.

But Darren Gough picked up three wickets, and Alex Wharf and Ashley Giles two each as Zimbabwe were dismissed in the final over of their innings for 195.

This slow pitch was not to Vikram Solanki's liking at all - he needs the ball coming on to the bat in order to play his wristy strokes.

But any hopes Tatenda Taibu's young side had of causing an upset were snuffed out by Ian Bell and Michael Vaughan, who added 111 for the second wicket.

Debutant Bell rose to the occasion as he did in his first Test

Both gave chances along the way, and soon after Vaughan pulled Stuart Matsikenyeri to deep midwicket, Andrew Strauss was caught and bowled by the same bowler.

So this was the acid test for Bell, who scored a half-century in his first Test innings last summer, and now began his one-day international career with another.

But when Kevin Pietersen joined him, England needed exactly 50 to win from 15 overs, and the game needed to be finished off.

Unfortunately Bell gave it away on 75 when he edged Taylor to the wicket-keeper.

In the next over, Collingwood was run out for a duck when he failed to respond to Pietersen's call.

Another wicket might have made it interesting.

But Pietersen and Geraint Jones batted sensibly until Pietersen thumped a boundary straight down the ground to give England victory with fourteen balls to spare.