DURHAM'S Paul Collingwood had his first taste of leading England yesterday when Michael Vaughan left the field for an hour in the final one-day match in Zimbabwe.

Vaughan went off for treatment on a sore knee and Collingwood took the reins in the absence of the rested Ashley Giles.

Otherwise it was another unhappy day for the Durham man as for the second time in the four-match series he was run out.

Vaughan expressed his concern about the standard of Zimbabwean cricket after the tourists completed a 4-0 whitewash.

With 15 rebel cricketers refusing to play for the country in a protest against perceived racism within Zimbabwe Cricket's selection policies, England have been largely untroubled during their series.

Vaughan hit a career-best 90 not out as England cruised to a 74-run victory against the young Zimbabwe line-up yesterday, while former captain Heath Streak, who led the protest against the selectors, watched in the Queens Park stands.

It was a situation which prompted Vaughan to speak out for the first time about the crisis in the Zimbabwean game, stressing: ''I find it disappointing when you see Heath Streak in the stand just watching.

''I don't want to get involved in the political wrangles but Zimbabwe aren't putting their best team out on the pitch at the minute.

"I find that very sad and I'd have liked to have played against the likes of Heath Streak, the Flower brothers (Grant and Andy), Stuart Carlisle and all the others.''

Unlike Saturday's comprehensive eight-wicket victory, when England were never really put under pressure, at least yesterday Zimbabwe tested the tourists.

England were reduced to 104 for five before Vaughan and Geraint Jones forged a 150-run stand to guide them to a challenging 261 for six.

Zimbabwe slipped to 43 for four in reply. Darren Gough, recalled after being rested for Saturday's match, claimed four for 34, while Vaughan used eight bowlers, including Andrew Strauss.

''It's going to be hard for their young players because they haven't got any senior figure to guide them through situations,'' said Vaughan.

''When you're a young player that's what you need. The coach can do only so much, but when you're put in the middle in situations you need senior players around you and they don't have that.''

Apart from the early part of the trip when England stayed in Johannesburg while the media accreditation issue was resolved, Vaughan was happy that the tour had passed off without any major non-sporting incident.

''This tour didn't start very well,'' he added.

''Those two days in Johannesburg were very tough on the team, especially the young players and the first game in Harare was where I thought it might have had a mental effect on some of the lads, but we came through that.

''The next three games were as normal as you could have had and the hospitality has been pretty good. The atmosphere in and around the grounds has been good as well, but I'm quite happy to be leaving and going on to Johannesburg for what is the exciting leg of the winter.''

England's six one-day specialists - Kevin Pietersen, Darren Gough, Vikram Solanki, Ian Bell, Matt Prior and Alex Wharf - will fly home to Heathrow tonight.

The rest of the party will link up with the other members of the Test squad in Johannesburg, in preparation for the first of five Tests against South Africa, starting in Port Elizabeth on December 17.

Vaughan has not allowed the extra distractions to affect his form and his innings yesterday eclipsed his previous highest of 86 against Australia in September's ICC Champions Trophy semi-final victory at Edgbaston. It was also his fourth half-century in his last six one-day internationals.

At least Zimbabwe improved on their display the previous day and put the tourists under pressure when they lost five wickets in 12 overs after Vaughan won the toss.

Blooding yet another new opening partnership - Vikram Solanki was rested following his century on Saturday - to allow Matt Prior his debut, England's first-wicket pairing of the Sussex youngster and Ian Bell struggled for any fluency before the latter fell, mis-timing a pull to mid-on.

Prior looked nervous throughout and eventually clipped straight to short mid-wicket for 35. He may struggle to force his way back into contention, with Bell and Kevin Pietersen handed further chances to impress after the Test series in South Africa and the impending return to the batting line-up of Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff.

Andrew Strauss and Pietersen fell in successive balls to leg-spinner Stuart Matsikenyeri, and Collingwood had little chance to make his mark after being run out when Vaughan called for a quick single.

Vaughan set about ensuring he was the mainstay of an England recovery.

He took 77 balls just to reach his half-century, and although he accelerated to score his last 40 runs off 22 deliveries, Vaughan was happy to allow wicketkeeper Jones to play the aggressive role.

Jones smashed a career-best 80 off 75 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes