Zimbabwe vs Cricket Web XI
at the CW Oval
Scorecard
Commentary
It was another questionable showing by the Cricket Web XI at the CW Oval, but resulted in a 6-wicket win and a series victory over Zimbabwe. For the third straight game, the CW XI failed to dominate the Zimbabweans, but still won through by a comfortable margin.
On this occasion Zimbabwe elected to bat first and did so with great skill. Kyle Wright and Xavier Rose reduced the top order to 53-3, but could not press home the advantage. Taylor was crucially dismissed for 16 at 82-4, but Piet Rinke joined Justice Chibhabha to forge the definitive partnership.
Both batsmen struck half-centuries and the two added 120 runs. The Webheads caught a break with the run out of Rinke as Rose was sharp to field off his own bowling and throw the stumps down. Chigumbura and Brent then faltered, but Chibhabha was left unbeaten on 77 and the score settled at 228-7.
A tricky target undoubtedly, the Webheads were still expected to get there comfortably and quickly. But that was not the case. Mupariwa and Ireland bowled well early on and tied Daniel Towns and Arunava Das down. Towns broke loose with two gorgeous on-drives off consecutive Mupariwa, then Das guided Brent through the covers for four more.
Das perished an over later, however, trapped in front by an offcutter. Captain Sean Fuller came to the crease in need of ODI runs. But he struggled to time the ball against Brent and Utseya.
Towns got to his half-century with a cut shot to the boundary and he had faced 72 balls to get there. Fuller then threatened to break loose with a lofted shot over Masakadza's head. He attempted another and was brilliantly caught by Duffin in the deep. It meant that Butler came in with another chance to finish a game for his team. And when he classily compiled 8 runs off his first 4 balls, it seemed he was well on course to do so.
Towns and Butler accelerated seemlessly. The latter was put down by Rinke in the covers while he had 17 - perhaps a crucial miss. It hardly seemed to trouble Butler though, and he instead continued on at good pace. Brent returned and ensured that Towns would not have the satisfaction of his second ODI hundred, bowling the opener for an excellent 81.
He then took his third wicket, that of DeSilva. But the score was 213-4 and the game all but won. Still, Butler and Kearsley removed any doubt from the equation in quick time. A powerful pull shot over midwicket by Butler was matched an over later as Kearsley deposited the ball over the cover boundary to win the game in style.
Zimbabwe 228-7 (50 overs)
CJ Chibhabha 77*, HP Rinke 61; KS Wright 2-30, XPA Rose 2-36
Cricket Web XI 231-4 (50 overs)
DP Towns 81, CR Butler 70*; GB Brent 3-42
Cricket Web XI won by 6 wickets.
Man of the Match: CR Butler
How OUT:
Zimbabwe
T Duffin - pushed at full delivery; caught 2nd slip
V Sibanda - beaten by one that jagged back; lbw
CJ Chibhabha - not out
H Masakadza - nicked away-swinger; caught behind
BRM Taylor - attempted flick, leading edge; caught well at short extra cover
HP Rinke - run out by bowler fielding sharply
E Chigumbura - top-edged swipe; well-caught behind
GB Brent - slashed to backward point; good catch
P Utseya - not out
Cricket Web XI
DP Towns - played on to short ball
AS Das - beaten by offcutter; plumb lbw
SE Fuller - lofted straight and deep; brilliant catch
CR Butler - not out
MW DeSilva - attempted on-drive, inside edge onto pad; lbw
DA Kearsley - not out
