Windies too good
for Zimbabwe 'A'

The West Indies easily beat Zimbabwe 'A' by 153 runs on Tuesday in a 50-over game designed to give the tourists some match practice during the current one-day triangular series, which also involves Zimbabwe and India.

After losing the toss and being put in to bat at the Harare Sports Club, the West Indies scored 277 for six wickets before dismissing Zimbabwe for just 124.

Only Guy Croxford (27) and Gary Brent (36), batting at number nine, provided any resistance as the Zimbabweans crumbled in the face of a fine opening spell from West Indies' Reon King and Corey Colleymore along with Mahendra Nagamootoo's leg spin.

King (2-29 from 10 overs) and Colleymore (2-15 from eight) ripped through the Zimbabwe 'A' top order, reducing the hosts to 24 for four -- a position from which they never recovered.

Nagamootoo (4-44 from nine overs) then finished off the tail enders to complete a fine individual all-round performance.

Zimbabwe's second string faced a difficult task after Ramnaresh Sarwan's well paced innings of 94 led West Indies to an impressive 277 for six wickets from their 50 overs.

Sarwan took advantage of a perfect batting pitch to reach his total from just 104 balls with five boundaries before a brilliant run out from the covers by Paul Strang ended his innings just short of a century.

Openers Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle laid the platform for a large score with a half century stand for the first wicket before left hander Gayle (29) was caught by wicketkeeper Donald Campbell off fast bowler David Mutendera.

Hinds completed his half century in untroubled style before offering a return catch to leg spinner Strang to depart for 55 from 74 deliveries with five fours and a six.

Nagamootoo applied the finishing touches to a well-judged innings with a bullish 43 from just 41 balls, including one six and a four, before becoming the second run-out victim of the innings in the closing overs.

The match did not feature on West Indies' touring itinerary until two days ago when the management felt a gap of seven days between matches in the triangular tournament was too long.

West Indies won their opening game against Zimbabwe by 27 runs and play their next match next Saturday against India.

Mail Cricket Editor