Zimbabwe recover from humiliating defeat

Zimbabwe beat West Indies by four wickets on Sunday in the second match of the triangular tournament, recovering well from their humiliating performance against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Andy Flower scored an unbeaten 47 off 75 balls to guide Zimbabwe to their target with 11 balls to spare as the African side made 175 for six wickets after dismissing West Indies for 173.

Zimbabwe, who were bowled out for 38 by Sri Lanka at the same venue on Saturday, the lowest total in one-day international history, looked in danger of failing to reach their modest target when they lost their sixth wicket with the total on 145.

But Flower, who hit only two fours, and Heath Streak, another former Zimbabwe captain, carried their side to victory with an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 30 off 39 balls.

The man-of-the-match award went to Zimbabwe captain Stuart Carlisle for his knock of 47 of 93 balls, including five fours.

Asked to bat first, West Indies never established any momentum, losing opener Chris Gayle for a duck in the first over following a fine piece of fielding by Dion Ebrahim, who ran him out from backward point with a direct hit.

The wicket of Brian Lara, lbw to Streak for two, was a major blow, and only opener Daren Ganga held the innings together with a sedate 59 off 89 balls.

Ganga and Ramnaresh Sarwan added 57 for the third wicket, Sarwan batting well for his 36 before he was bowled by Henry Olonga.

Ganga was then joined by Marlon Samuels, who made 32 off 65 balls before pulling a short ball from Grant Flower to midwicket.

Ganga was finally dismissed at 152 when he gave an easy return catch to Grant Flower, who completed his 10 overs with figures of two for 33.

The West Indies innings ended in the final over when Ridley Jacobs, on 20, pulled Travis Friend to deep midwicket where Streak took a smart catch.

Sensing he was going over the boundary, Streak threw the ball back into the playing area and ran inside to hold the catch and cap an excellent performance by Zimbabwe in the field.

Mail Cricket Editor