COLOMBO, Dec 9: Zimbabwe bounced back after their humiliation in the opening game with a four-wicket victory over the West Indies in the tri-series here Sunday.

Zimbabwe, shot out for the lowest ever one-day total of 38 by Sri Lanka Saturday, came up with a timely team effort that helped restore their confidence.

Prolific left-hander Andy Flower (47 not out) and captain Stuart Carlisle (47) helped Zimbabwe get to their target of 174 with 11 deliveries to spare.

Flower faced 77 deliveries and hit two fours, while Carlisle struck four fours during his 92-ball essay.

It was not smooth sailing for Zimbabwe, who threw away some wickets midway. But Andy Flower and former captain Heath Streak (19 not out) played intelligently to see the team through.

Carlisle, who had earlier put the team on course along with opener Grant Flower (30), was declared Man-of-the-Match.

Put in to bat, the West Indies struggled to get a big individual contribution and were bowled out for 173 in 49.1 overs.

Two run-outs and the early dismissal of Brian Lara prevented the West Indies from getting their act together.

Opener Daren Ganga kept the West Indians in contention, scoring 59 before being caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Grant Flower.

Ganga put on 57 runs for the third wicket with Ramnaresh Sarwan (36) and 60 for the fifth wicket with Marlon Samuels (32).

But wickets fell at regular intervals for the West Indies, who had lost their first wicket before a run was scored.

Chris Gayle was run out by a fine throw from point by Dion Ebrahim in the first over, and Lara was trapped leg before by experienced seamer Streak shortly after.

With the score at 9-2, Ganga steadied the innings with an 88-ball knock that yielded five fours.

Captain Carl Hooper, however, was run out by Henry Olonga while trying a risky single.

Apart from Sarwan and Samuels, wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs (20) tried to put up a fight and was the last man out, Heath Streak taking a lovely catch at the mid-wicket fence.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES:

C.H. Gayle run out 0

D. Ganga c and b G. Flower 59

B.C. Lara lbw b Streak 2

R.R. Sarwan b Olonga 36

C.L. Hooper run out 5

M.N. Samuels c Taibu b G. Flower 32

R.D. Jacobs c Streak b Friend 20

N.C. McGarrell lbw b Friend 1

P.T. Collins c G.Flower b Nkala 4

M.I. Black lbw b Streak 0

C.D. Collymore not out 3

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-4) 11

TOTAL (all out, 49.1 overs) 173

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-9, 3-66, 4-77, 5-137,

6-152, 7-153, 8-161, 9-163.

BOWLING: Streak 10-1-38-2 (1w); Friend 8.1-2-26-2 (3w); Olonga 10-1-30-1; Marillier 10-0-35-0; G.W. Flower 10-0-33-2; Nkala

1-0-4-1.

ZIMBABWE:

D.D. Ebrahim lbw b Collins 0

G.W. Flower c Hooper b Collymore 30

S.V. Carlisle c McGarrell b Hooper 47

A. Flower not out 47

C.B. Wishart c Collins b Collymore 12

D.A. Marillier c Hooper b Collins 5

T. Taibu c and b Hooper 0

H.H. Streak not out 19

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-6, NB-3) 15

TOTAL (for six wkts, 48.1 overs) 175

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-59, 3-96, 4-125, 5-141, 6-145.

DID NOT BAT: T.J. Friend, M.L. Nkala, H.K. Olonga.

BOWLING: Collins 9.1-2-35-2 (1nb, 2w); Colleymore 10-1-29-2 (2nb, 1w); Black

9-1-43-0; McGarrell 10-0-27-0; Hooper

10-0-35-2 (3w).

RESULT: Zimbabwe won by four wickets.

UMPIRES: E.A.R. de Silva and T.H. Wijewardena.

MATCH REFEREE: R. Subba Row (England)

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Stuart Carlisle.

NEXT MATCH: Sri Lanka v West Indies (R. Premadasa Stadium, (D/N), Tuesday.—AFP/Reuters