Masakadza bowls Zimbabwe to victory over West Indies

Debutant Shingirai Masakadza took two wickets in the final over to help Zimbabwe to a two-run victory over West Indies in the first One-day International in Guyana on Thursday.

West Indies, chasing 255 for victory, needed 15 off the final over with three wickets in hand but Masakadza bowled Dwayne Smith (4) and Sulieman Benn was caught at midwicket next ball.

With the hosts requiring four off the final ball, Masakadza bowled a yorker to Kemar Roach who could only pick up a single to give Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the five-match series,

The West Indies run chase got off to a good start with captain Chris Gayle (57) and Adrian Barath (50) striking up a 99-run opening partnership before four wickets fell for 66 runs.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul steadied the West Indies and put them within sight of victory with a quick-fire 70 before being caught off the bowling of Masakadza, younger brother of Zimbabwe opener Hamilton.

Zimbabwe's Vusi Sibanda fell five runs short of his century in 162-ball innings that included five fours and a six as the visitors reached 254 for five in their 50 overs.

The second ODI is in Guyana on Saturday.

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe
H. Masakadza lbw b Miller 41
V. Sibanda b Roach 95
T. Taibu lbw b Pollard 56
B. Taylor run out 1
E. Chigumbura c Fletcher b Pollard 27
S. Matsikenyeri not out 16
G. Lamb not out 2
Extras (lb-2, b-4, w-7, nb-3) 16
Total (for five wickets; 50 overs) 254
Fall of wickets: 1-67, 2-167, 3-168, 4-215, 5-241
Bowling: K. Roach 9-0-34-1, S. Benn 10-4-38-0, D. Smith 3-0-18-0, K. Pollard 10-0-59-2, N. Miller 10-1-52-1, N. Deonarine 8-0-47-0.

West Indies
C. Gayle lbw b Lamb 57
A. Barath b Chigumbura 50
S. Chanderpaul c Chigumbura b S. Masakadza 70
A. Fletcher run out 6
N. Deonarine run out 17
K. Pollard c Taylor b Utseya 5
D. Ramdin b Chigumbura 8
D. Smith b S. Masakadza 4
N. Miller not out 12
S. Benn c Cremer b S. Masakadza 0
K. Roach not out 1
Extras (b-2, lb-7, w-11, nb-2) 22
Total (for nine wickets; 50 overs) 252
Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-126, 3-136, 4-165, 5-193, 6-233, 7-235, 8-251, 9-251
Bowling: P. Utseya 10-1-47-1, R. Price 10-1-31-0, A. Cremer 10-0-48-0, S. Masakadza 3-0-36-3, G. Lamb 10-0-35-1,
E. Chigumbura 5-0-32-2, B. Taylor 2-0-14-0