No result in Trinidad

The rain washed out the possibility of a result at Port-of-Spain, when an interesting game looked to be on the cards.

Chasing the West Indian 263, Zimbabwe were seven without loss after two overs when the rain began to fall. When the showers resided and the covers came off, Duckworth-Lewis set the target as 191 off 30 overs, with Zimbabwe needing 184 off their remaining 28 overs.

West Indies sported an impotent-looking bowling attack, and as Zimbabwe began aggressively, they looked to have a chance. Vusi Sibanda started well, but his partner, Terry Duffin, did not suit the attacking game, and reverse swept Marlon Samuels to Carlton Baugh for 14. Piet Rinke’s horrible form continued at number three, this time through no fault of his own, as a poor call from Sibanda left him stranded.

Zimbabwe’s hopes grew as 13 wides were bowled in the 12 available overs, and Brendan Taylor smashed Chris Gayle for a maximum, but the rain returned, and heavier this time. Any chance of a result was soon gone, but Zimbabwe still have one more game to gain some consolation.

Earlier, West Indies racked up 263-6, thanks largely to Runako Morton’s second ODI hundred. Gayle was bowled early on, but Ramnaresh Sarwan and Morton looked to set them up for another huge score. They added 134 in 26 overs, but towards the end of the partnership Zimbabwe’s spinners were able to keep things tight.

Spinners Ryan Higgins and Prosper Utseya were the shining lights of the Zimbabwe bowling. Higgins claimed two wickets, Sarwan and Brian Lara for just two. The pair were by far the most economical of the Zimbabwe attack conceding just 74 runs in their combined 20 overs, compared with 189 off 30 for the rest of the team.

Morton slowed as he reached 100, and when he holed out to long on, West Indies were able to slog some quick runs at the finish. Shivanrine Chanderpaul and Baugh scored 51 off 44 and 25 off 15 respectively, and both were unbeaten at the end of the innings. They dispatched Zimbabwe?s inexperienced death bowlers with ease, and added 70 in the last seven overs.

West Indies 263-6
Runako Morton 109, Ramnaresh Sarwan 54, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 51*
Ryan Higgins 2-39, Tawanda Mupariwa 2-41

Zimbabwe 72-2 (12.1 overs)
Brendan Taylor 20*, Vusi Sibanda 18*
Marlon Samuels 1-31

No Result