Cricket

Tweet

West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by six wickets in the Group D encounter at Jamaica to storm into Super Eights, Sahara Samay sources said. Skipper Brian Lara remained unconquered on 44 and along with Dwayne Bravo, who remained not out on 37, set up the pace towards the end to take West Indies home with 2.1 overs to spare. Openers Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul led the chase with a solid opening partnership of 73 runs before Elton Chigumbura struck for Zimbabwe to dismiss a well-set Chanderpaul for 21 runs. Chris Mpofu then struck in the following over to send back the dangerous Gayle for a well stroked 40 runs off 48 deliveries to put West Indies on the backfoot. Ramnaresh Sarwan was quick to follow him back to the pavilion as he perished to a brilliant caught and bowled by Anthony Ireland for 12 runs after a brief stand with Marlon Samuels. Sarwan's exit brought skipper Brian Lara to the crease. The duo then continued to trudge along comfortably for a 23-run stand before Tawanda Mupariwa snared Samuels for 28 runs. Put in to bat by West Indies skipper Brian Lara, Zimbabwe posted 202 for five in 50 overs, thanks to a vital anchoring knock by Sean Williams. Williams, who remained unbeaten on 70, steered his side to a respectable total after the initial upheaval and he was well supported by Elton Chigumbura who finished at 30 not out. Zimbabwe started off disastrously as opener Friday Kasteni lasted only one delivery as Jerome Taylor struck to uproot him for a duck and give West Indies an early breakthrough. Daren Powell then got into the act to remove Vusi Sibanda for one run leaving Zimbabwe jolted as both the openers were back in the pavilion with the scoreboard reading two for two. Chamu Chibahabha and Stuart Matsikenyeri then lead the fightback with a 29 -run stand before Taylor bamboozled the former for 12 runs to the end the promising partnership and take his wicket tally to two. Brendon Taylor took over the reins in the middle with Sean Williams, putting up a brave front to the might of the Windies pacers. The duo got the Zimbabweans past the 100-run mark in the 29th over. Taylor laboured to his fifty from 120 balls, but was run out after a terrible mix-up with Williams on the same score, the Zimbabweans being reduced to 144 for five after 41 overs. Sean Williams then brought up his fifty with a single in the 44th over, the batsman remaining Zimbabwe's last hope of taking them to a respectable total.