NEW Worcestershire captain Vikram Solanki took another step towards cementing his place as an England one-day batsman against Namibia.

Solanki batted aggressively to score 82 runs for his country who fielded an inexperienced line-up in a seven-wicket victory in Windhoek.

Spinner Gareth Batty also played but did not claim a wicket in his eight overs which yielded 38 runs.

Namibia, batting first, totalled 219-8 from 50 overs but England passed the target with Solanki starring alongside fellow opener Ian Bell, of Warwickshire, who added 51.

England, who rested Michael Vaughan, Darren Gough and Andrew Strauss, eventually lost just three wickets on the way to winning inside 43.5 overs.

Having been discarded from the set-up in the past, Solanki has rewarded the selectors' faith with impressive form since his recall.