|
|
|
| April 30, 2006 | Sunday | Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1427 |
Zimbabwe struggle
ST JOHN’S (Antigua), April 29: Zimbabwe struggled in the late stages and set West Indies the modest target of 152 to win the opening One-day International of their seven-match series on Saturday at the Antigua Recreation Ground.
Sent in to bat on a helpful pitch, Zimbabwe were restricted to 151 for nine from their allocation of 50 overs.
Justice Chibhabha hit five fours in the top score of 55 from 99 balls and featured in a vital stand of 64 for the second wicket with Zimbabwe captain Terrence Duffin, who scored 26.
The visitors looked set to make a competitive total when Chibhabha and Duffin added 64 for the second wicket.
But once they were removed, there was neither substance nor stability from the rest of the batting, as the Zimbabweans lost their last six wickets for 30 runs in the final 10 overs.
The visitors suffered an early setback, when opener Piet Rinke was caught at square leg for one in the second over.
With the West Indies bowlers gaining appreciable bounce and movement from the pitch, Duffin and Chibhabha played within their limitations to navigate Zimbabwe through the tough first half of the innings.
Duffin played a few crisp strokes through the off-side, where he is strongest, and Chibhabha offered steady support punctuating periods of solidity with the occasional stroke in anger.
Duffin had been fortunate in the fourth over when, on six, he gloved a rising ball from Taylor and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin spilled the chance.
Ramdin however, made no mistake the second time around just when it looked like Duffin and Chibhabha were getting ready to play their strokes.
Duffin was caught behind for 26 off Dwayne Smith edging a backfoot drive off the last ball of the 27th over.
Chibhabha continued to plod away and reached 50 when he sliced Taylor through backward point for two, but he became reckless after arriving at the milestone and was caught off Smith in the 37th over.
Scoreboard
ZIMBABWE:
P. Rinke c Smith b Taylor 1
T. Duffin c Ramdin b Smith 26
J. Chibhabha c Edwards b Smith 55
B.R.M. Taylor c Bradshaw b Bravo 25
E. Chigumbura run out 8
G. Strydom c Bravo b Gayle 8
K.M. Dabengwa c Chanderpaul b Bravo 5
B. Mahwire c Sarwan b Taylor 6
R. Higgins c Bravo b Gayle 0
P. Utseya not out 2
E. Rainsford not out 1
EXTRAS (LB-3, W-10, NB-1) 14
TOTAL (for nine wkts; 50 overs) 151
FALL OF WKTS: 1-5, 2-69, 3-105, 4-121, 5-126, 6-135, 7-142, 8-142, 9-150.
BOWLING: Edwards 9-2-23-0 (1nb, 1w); Taylor 10-2-19-2 (2w); Bravo 8-1-23-2 (4w); Bradshaw 8-0-24-0 (1w); Smith 8-0-29-2 (2w); Gayle 7-0-30-2.
WEST INDIES: C.H. Gayle, R.S. Morton, R.R. Sarwan, B.C. Lara, S. Chanderpaul, D.J.J. Bravo, D.R. Smith, D. Ramdin, I.D.R. Bradshaw, J.E. Taylor, F.H. Edwards.
UMPIRES: B. Doctrove (West Indies) and B.F. Bowden (New Zealand).
TV UMPIRE: S.A. Bucknor (West Indies).
MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England). —AFP
|
|
|
|
