|
|
|
| May 1, 2006 | Monday | Rabi-us-Sani 2, 1427 |
Lara begins third reign on winning note
ST JOHN’S (Antigua), April 30: West Indies made a mountain out of a molehill before prevailing by five wickets in the opening One-day International against Zimbabwe on Saturday at the Antigua Recreation Ground (partly reported in Sunday’s edition).
Chasing a modest target of 152 from their allocation of 50 overs, West Indies lost five wickets before they achieved victory in the 39th over.
New West Indies captain Brian Lara had the privilege of hitting the winning runs, when he lofted a delivery from Ryan Higgins over wide long-on for a six to give his side a 1-0 lead in the seven-match series.
Lara's unbeaten 40 from 43 balls that contained three fours and one six was the top score for the home team.
Prosper Utseya was the most successful Zimbabwe bowler with three wickets for 35 runs from his allotment of 10 overs.
West Indies suffered an early casualty, when Runako Morton, opening the batting, was caught at second slip for a duck off the last ball of the first over bowled by Edward Rainsford.
Ramnaresh Sarwan came to the wicket and announced himself with a crisp extra cover drive off Rainsford for a boundary.
Rainsford was left disappointed however, when wicketkeeper Brendon Taylor muffed a chance when Sarwan was on 12, the same score on which he offered a chance to Rainsford at third man off Mahwire, but the fielder could not get under the skier.
Sarwan's luck eventually ran out, when on 14 he failed to beat Prosper's direct hit from square leg in the 12th over.
Chris Gayle was caught at short third man for 35 off Prosper, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul was caught behind top-edging a cut at a delivery from Prosper to leave West Indies 77 for four.
Ramdin and Lara added a crucial 44 for the fifth wicket to put West Indies back on track.
Scoreboard
ZIMBABWE:
P. Rinke c Smith b Taylor 1
T. Duffin c Ramdin b Smith 26
C. 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
N.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 9-1-24-0 (1nb, 1w); Taylor 10-2-19-2 (2w); Bravo 8-1-23-2 (4w); Bradshaw 8-0-23-0 (1w); Smith 8-0-29-2 (2w); Gayle 7-0-30-2.
WEST INDIES:
C.H. Gayle c Chibhabha b Utseya 35
R.S. Morton c Higgins b Rainsford 0
R.R. Sarwan run out 14
D. Ramdin b Utseya 37
S. Chanderpaul c Taylor b Utseya 3
B.C. Lara not out 40
D.J.J. Bravo not out 9
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-12, NB-3) 16
TOTAL (for five wkts, 38.2 overs) 154
FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-38, 3-71, 4-77, 5-121.
DID NOT BAT: D.R. Smith, I.D.R. Bradshaw, J.E. Taylor, F.H. Edwards.
BOWLING: Rainsford 6-1-25-1 (3w); Mahwire 7-1-14-0 (6w); Chibhabha 6-0-30-0 (1nb, 1w); Utseya 10-2-35-3 (2nb); Higgins 6.2-0-36-0; Dabengwa 3-0-13-0.
RESULT: West Indies won by five wickets. —Agencies
|
|
|
|
