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Hapless Zims are
a complete mismatch for Windies |
October 8, 2006 (Link to
Scorecard)
 Zimbabwe
were a complete mismatch for West Indies who won
their first game of the ICC Champions Trophy by
9 wickets. It was a terrible show put on by the
Zims as they got bundled out for 85 and then the
game finished just before the scheduled dinner
break. It wasn't a great bowling display from
the Windies, but it was more of the poor
technique displayed by the Zimbabweans with the
bat that had led to a one-sided affair at the
Motera in Ahmedabad.
The Motera wicket was a good one for batting
with the possibility of the spinners doing the
damage later considering the red soil content in
the pitch. Prosper Utseya, the Zimbabwean
Skipper had won the toss and elected to bat
first. It was a good decision considering that
the entire match lasted just the 44.3 overs and
thus saving valuable time of the spectators and
the people covering the match. It was in the 4th
over that Zimbabwe lost its first wicket that of
Justice Chibhabha who just didn't get in line of
Ian Bradshaw's delivery to get his furniture
disturbed. Hamilton Masakadza too followed
Chibhabha's technique of not getting in line of
the delivery and he was cleaned up by Jerome
Taylor's delivery that skidded off the turf.
Wickets were going down at regular intervals for
the minnows and it was just matter of time
before they got all out. A couple of run outs
courtesy of poor judgment of singles and superb
direct throws were aiding West Indies in
cleaning up the innings.
Prosper Utseya who had come in at no.8 was the
only player who looked compact and was showing
the determination of not giving away his wicket.
He was the last man to be dismissed in the 31st
over as he went for a sweep off a quicker and
fuller delivery at 94kmph from Chris Gayle.
Utseya was the highest scorer with 27. The
second highest scorer was Tafadzwa Mufambisi,
the opener who made 18 which included a handsome
straight drive for a boundary. All in all, only
three Zimbabweans could get into double figures.
Chris Gayle was the most successful bowler
taking 3 for 3 in 3.1 overs. The part time off
spinner had taken the last three wickets of the
innings. Jerome Taylor picked up two wickets
including a perfectly directed bouncer to force
Mufambisi to fend it to Carlton Baugh. Medium
Pacer Dwayne Smith had also taken a couple of
wickets.
West Indies were looking to wrap up the 86-run
target within the dinner break but they were
forced to play the waiting game early on because
of an impressive seam bowling from Edward
Rainsford and Anthony Ireland. Chris Gayle after
getting his eye started to take on the bowlers
and once he got going, there was hardly anything
to stop him from taking Windies close to 86.
Gayle was also dropped twice while going for the
big shots and he was out only in the 10th over
as for once Zimbabwe could manage to hold onto a
catch. Gayle by then had smashed 41 from 34
balls with 7 fours and a six and was dismissed
by medium pacer Elton Chigumbura. All this time,
Shivnarine Chanderpaul was biding his time and
playing according to the merit of the ball and
just didn't mind even if there was a maiden.
Skipper Brian Lara had different ideas though
and he faced 20 balls to score 24 runs to end
the match in grand style by lofting Prosper
Utseya for consecutive sixes in the long on
stands. Chanderpaul was safely unbeaten on 14
from 36 balls. Windies got to their target in
14.2 overs and got them just before the stroke
of the dinner break. Chris Gayle was declared as
the Man of the Match for his little efforts with
both the bat and the ball.
The Zimbabweans who do not look to be fit at the
International Level will get another chance to
prove their worth when they take on Sri Lanka on
the 10th. The Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera,
Ahmedabad will be the venue for this match also.
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