ST. GEORGE’S (Grenada), Feb 24: Craig Ervine struck a fluent knock of 80 to help Zimbabwe post a competitive target of 274 runs to win against the West Indies in the second One-Day International at the National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Electing to bat first, Zimbabwe batsmen produced an inspired show to put up a strong total in the second tie with Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda also scoring half-centuries after their poor outing in the first at the same venue which they lost by 156 runs.

Ervine’s innings came of 85 balls and was studded with three sixes and six hits to the fence. Masakadza scored 60 from 84 balls while Sibanda struck six boundaries and a hit over the fence to score 51, which came off 63 balls.

Malcolm Waller scored a quick-fire 26 to accelerate the scoring rate in the final overs.

For the West Indies, captain Dwayne Bravo was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged 6-43 off his 10 overs.

West Indies were forced to omit opening batsman Johnson Charles, the man of the match from the first one-dayer, due to foot and hamstring injuries sustained while batting on Friday.

Hard-hitting middle-order batsman Kieron Pollard, who was not considered for the opening fixture due to his late arrival from Bangladesh, replaces Charles.

Zimbabwe also made one change, Tendai Chatara replacing Chris Mpofu in a straight swap of tall, slim fast-medium bowlers. —Agencies

Scoreboard ZIMBABWE: V. Sibanda b D.J. Bravo    51 C.J. Chibhabha b Narine    11 H. Masakadza c Narine b D.J. Bravo    60 B.R.M. Taylor lbw b D.J. Bravo    0 C.R. Ervine b D.J. Bravo    80 M.N. Waller b Roach    26 R.W. Chakabva c Pollard b D.J. Bravo    15 P. Utseya not out    12 K.M. Jarvis c D.M. Bravo b D.J. Bravo    1 N. Mushangwe not out    0

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-12, NB-1)    17 TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs)    273 FALL OF WKTS: 1-39, 2-76, 3-76, 4-186, 5-232, 6-241, 7-268, 8-271. DID NOT BAT: T.L. Chatara. BOWLING: Roach 10-1-63-1 (1nb); Best 10-0-53-0 (4w); Russell 6-0-29-0 (1w); Narine 10-0-55-1; D.J. Bravo 10-1-43-6 (2w); Pollard 2-0-15-0 (1w); Deonarine 2-0-11-0 (2w).

WEST INDIES: K.O.A. Powell, D.M. Bravo, R.R. Sarwan, K.A. Pollard, D.J. Bravo, N. Deonarine, A.D. Russell, D. Ramdin, S.P. Narine, K.A.J. Roach, T.L. Best. UMPIRES: P.J. Nero (West Indies) and J.D. Cloete (South Africa). TV UMPIRE: I.J. Gould (England). MATCH REFEREE: J. Srinath (India).