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West Indies coast to 9-wicket win over Zimbabwe
Ahmadabad (India)—Opener Chris Gayle struck a brisk 41 after claiming
three wickets for three runs Sunday as the West Indies coasted to a
nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in a limited-overs qualifier for the
ICC Champions Trophy. Spurred by Gayle’s stroke-filled knock, the West
Indies raced to 90 for one in 14.2 overs after bundling Zimbabwe out for
a paltry 85 in 30.1 overs. This was the eighth time Zimbabwe has been
dismissed for less than 100 in one-dayers, but captain Prosper Utseya’s
knock of 27 helped it avoid the dubious distinction of recording the
lowest score in the Champions Trophy. That record is still held by the
United States, which was skittled for 65 by Australia in 2004. Electing
to bat first after Utseya won the toss, Zimbabwe’s inexperienced batsmen
faltered against the penetrative attack of Champions Trophy title holder
West Indies, which has been forced to play in the qualifying competition
because it is ranked outside the top six limited-overs nations. West
Indies captain Brian Lara said his players were looking to strike form
in the qualifying games and that purpose was served in Sunday’s victory.
We came here to win this game emphatically, and I think we did that,
Lara said. «When you’re playing a one-day international, it doesn’t
matter what the opposition is,» he said. «I thought we fielded and
bowled well, and then we showed purpose in batting. Bowled out for its
lowest score in the biennial Champions Trophy, Zimbabwe skipper Utseya
said his batsmen tried to play shots before settling down. «Our side is
capable of performing much better,» said Utseya. Today, the batsmen
tried playing shots too early in their innings. Zimbabwe slumped to 10
for two as opening batsman Justice Chibhabha and Hamilton Masakadza
returned to the pavilion after contributing just one run each. Chibhabha
was bowled by an inswinging delivery from left-arm paceman Ian Bradshaw,
while Masakadza missed fast bowler Jerome Taylor’s straight delivery
that dislodged his off-stump.
Tafadzwa Mufambisi contributed a composed 18 before he was the fifth man
out, edging a rising ball from Taylor (2-19) to wicketkeeper Carlton
Baugh. Mufambisi outlasted Brendan Taylor (7) and Stuart Matsikenyeri
(7).Piet Rinke’s run out reduced Zimbabwe to 46 for six when Utseya came
in to bat.Utseya witnessed the departure of Elton Chigumbura for 10, but
utilized the support of the lower order.Utseya struck two boundaries in
his 41-ball knock before becoming the last victim of left-arm spinner
Gayle, who ran through the Zimbabwe tailenders to claim his three
wickets in the space of 13 balls.Before Utseya’s dismissal, Gayle clean
bowled Anthony Ireland (6) and induced a catch from Edward Rainsford (0)
to Dwayne Bravo.
Returning to open the West Indies innings, Gayle struck one six and
seven boundaries off 34 deliveries and benefited from two dropped
catches _ when he was on 21 and 31 _ before lofting medium-pacer
Chigumbura to Tafadzwa Kamungozi at mid-on.
Fellow opener Shivnarine Chanderpaul remained unbeaten on 14 and skipper
Lara was 24 not out when the West Indies overtook Zimbabwe’s score, with
Lara hitting his second six from 20 deliveries.
Under the new tournament format, defending champion West Indies, Sri
Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will play a qualifying round-robin
competition from which the two top teams will advance to the main round
of the ICC Champions Trophy beginning Oct. 17. Sri Lanka defeated
Bangladesh by 37 runs Saturday in the first match of the qualifying
competition.—AP
Scoreboard
Zimbabwe:
Mufambisi c Baugh b Taylor 18
C. Chibhahba b Bradshaw 1
H. Masakadza b Taylor 1
B. Taylor run out 7
Matsikenyeri c Baugh b Smith 7
Chigumbura c Taylor b Smith 10
P. Rinke run out 1
P. Utseya lbw b Gayle 27
A. Ireland b Gayle 6
E. Rainsford c Bravo b Gayle 0
T. Kamungozi not out 0
Extras: (lb1, w3, nb3) 7
Total: 85
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-10, 3-31, 4-31, 5-39, 6-46, 7-58, 8-82, 9-84
Bowling: O-M-R-M
Laylor 6-0-19-2
Bradshaw 8-1-20-1
Smith 6-2-14-2
Bravo 7-0-28-0
Gayle 3.1-1-3-3
Overs: 30.1
West Indies:
Gayle c Kamungozi
b Chigumbura 41
S. Chanderpaul not out 14
B. Lara not out 24
Extras: (b4, lb2, w1, nb4) 11
Total: (for one wicket) 90
Fall of wicket: 1-66
Bowling: O-M-R-W
Rainsford 5-1-21-0
Ireland 4-1-27-0
Chigumbura 3-1-17-1
Utseya 2.2-0-19-0
Overs: 14.2
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