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By Liam Brickhill in Harare
CLINCHING close matches and playing out last-gasp finishes have become a habit for Zimbabwe in this tournament.
For once, however, the result went against them, as West Indies won by four wickets to record their fifth-highest successful chase in ODI history.
This meant they were well in control of their fate heading into their final group fixture against Scotland. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, faced a must-win in their final Super Sixes fixture against UAE.
Brendan Taylor scored his 10th one-day international hundred to propel Zimbabwe to 289, a total that could have swelled further if not for a controversial no-ball call that resulted in Sikandar Raza’s wicket.
In response, West Indies lost Chris Gayle early, but a 135-run third-wicket stand between Shai Hope and Marlon Samuels tipped the chase in West Indies’ favour. Late wickets raised hopes of an unlikely comeback for Zimbabwe, but Rovman Powell’s nerveless cameo helped avoid any last-minute hiccups as West Indies won with an over to spare.
West Indies’ hopes hinged on a quick-fire start, but Zimbabwe may have entertained hopes of extending their unbeaten run in the tournament when Chris Gayle was out, slicing to third man off Blessing Muzarabani in the sixth over. But Hope and Lewis saw the shine off the ball and cashed in on anything loose.
Lewis did the bulk of the scoring in a partnership of 72 with Hope. But when he played too early, and with hard hands to give Sikandar Raza a simple caught-and-bowled chance in the 22nd over, Zimbabwe sensed an opportunity. This was, however, extinguished slowly as Samuels and Hope went berserk after digging in.
The bounce in the track took the bite out of what is usually Zimbabwe’s strength – their spinners. Deliveries that might have shot through at the shins in Bulawayo stood up on this hard surface, and Samuels’ first three boundaries all came off long hops.
Adjusting their lengths with the field spread, the spinners didn’t concede a single boundary between overs 26 and 35, but the floodgates soon opened.
Hope got to a 71-ball fifty in the 34th over and, seemingly taking that as his cue, Samuels immediately shifted gears. Raza’s off-spin was lifted over long-off for two enormous sixes, and Samuels then added two more sixes and a four to take 18 off an over from Cremer. The game turned then and there.
But as they got closer, West Indies let it slip briefly. Samuels started to cramp up as his mobility at the crease suffered. He swiped two more brutal boundaries off Muzarabani, but then pushed flat-footed at one that left him off the pitch to be well caught by a tumbling Taylor behind the stumps.
Then, Jason Holder fell. But with two overs to go, West Indies needing 11, Powell boldly stepped out to hit Sean Williams for six over long-on to close out the game.
Earlier in the afternoon, Taylor had work to do when he first got to the crease this morning. After Cephas Zhuwao gloved to fine leg, Hamilton Masakadza was removed by a brutal lifter from Holder.
When Solomon Mire was forced to retire because of blurred vision after a bouncer struck him on the right side of his helmet grille, Zimbabwe were effectively 30 for 3.
Craig Ervine helped steady the innings with Taylor, while Sean Williams helped to hoist the mainsail with a bellicose 34 at better than a run-a-ball. Together they helped to keep Zimbabwe ticking at five an over, or thereabouts, but it wasn’t until Raza joined him at the crease that Taylor really began to let loose. Together they rattled along with a boundary an over, with Taylor fittingly reaching his hundred with a reverse sweep.
Raza was given out in controversial circumstances when he was out, bowled, only for replays to suggest no part of Holder’s foot was behind the line. The third umpire, however, gave Holder the benefit of the doubt to shock a strong home crowd.
It was a moment that may have well cost Zimbabwe the 20 extra runs they desperately needed at the end. (Cricinfo.com)
ZIMBABWE innings
- Mire b Holder 45
- Zhuwao c Paul b Holder 0
- Masakadza c wkp. Hope b Holder 7
- Taylor c Nurse b Roach 138
- Ervine b Roach 14
- Williams c Nurse b Paul 34
- Raza b Holder 22
- Cremer c & b Roach 0
- Chisoro c Nurse b Paul 18
- Jarvis run-out 1
- Muzarabani not out 0
Extras: (lb-3, w-7) 10
Total: (all out, 50 overs) 289
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-28, 3-79, 4-155, 5-234, 6-246, 7-250, 8-284, 9-288.
Bowling: Roach 10-0-55-3, Holder 10-0-35-4, Paul 10-0-55-2, Bishoo 10-0-73-0, Nurse 4-0-28-0, Powell 4-0-26-0, Gayle 2-0-14-0.
WEST INDIES innings
- Gayle c Jarvis b Muzarabani 17
- Lewis c & b Sikander Raza 64
- Hope c Sikander Raza b Williams 76
- Samuels c wkp. Taylor b Muzarabani 86
- Hetmyer stp. Taylor b Cremer 13
- Holder c Sikandar Raza b Cremer 6
- Powell not out 15
- Nurse not out 8
Extras: (lb-1, w-4) 5
Total: (6 wkts, 49 overs) 290
Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-110, 3-245, 4-249, 5-263, 6-265.
Bowling: Jarvis 9-0-49-0, Sikandar Raza 7-0-58-1, Muzarabani 9-0-36-2, Cremer 10-0-63-2, Chisoro 7-0-38-0, Williams 7-0-45-1.
Points: West Indies 2, Zimbabwe 0.
