Windies annihilate Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe arrived here with the aim of proving their competitiveness at this level, but a West Indies side operating at well below full throttle gave them a cruel reality check at the Motera Stadium
The Bulletin by Dileep Premachandran
08-Oct-2006
West Indies 90 for 1 ( Gayle 41) beat Zimbabwe 85 (Utseya 27, Gayle 3-3) by 9 wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
![]() |
![]()
|
Having beaten an erratic Bangladesh side on home soil a few months ago,
Zimbabwe arrived here with the aim of proving their competitiveness at
this level, but a West Indies side operating at well below full throttle
gave them a cruel reality check at the Motera Stadium. After Prosper
Utseya had won the toss and elected to bat, Zimbabwe were skittled out for
85 in just 30.1 overs, with the bowlers breaking through at will every so
often. And a Chris Gayle blitz ensured that a lunch break wouldn't be
required, with West Indies knocking off the runs in just 14.2 overs.
Anthony Ireland and Ed Rainsford had bowled a maiden apiece as West Indies
started sedately, but Gayle, who had dawdled 17 balls for his first two
runs, exploded into action in the eighth over, slamming Ireland for six
and four over midwicket before clipping one down to the square leg fence.
Zimbabwe didn't help their cause with some awful fielding. With Gayle on
21, Utseya dropped a chance running back from deep cover and after
Gayle had rubbed it in with two nonchalant lofts over the leg side,
Ireland put down a simple chance at deep backward point, leaving Rainsford
to wonder just what he needed to do to pick up a wicket.
Gayle's 34-ball 41 ended with another casual hoick, but two glorious sixes
from Brian Lara finished off the job and continued the Champions Trophy's
tradition of hideous mismatches. If not for the lure of Lara, even the 32
folk that bought tickets for this shambles might have had second thoughts.
The first half of the match had been every bit as one-sided. Though West
Indies decided not to try out the express pace of Fidel Edwards, the
opening duo were more than a handful for a Zimbabwe side that haven't
beaten top-notch opposition in eons. Both Jerome Taylor and Ian Bradshaw
struggled to settle into a steady length and line on a placid pitch, but
the odd good delivery was more than enough to see off feeble resistance.
Bradshaw started the slide, darting one through Chamu Chibhabha's defence,
and Taylor then did Hamilton Masakadza for pace. Tafadzwa Mufambisi and
Brendan Taylor then threatened the briefest of revivals, with Mufambisi
stroking a gorgeous straight-drive off Taylor, but a lethal bouncer put
paid to such hopes. A shocking bit of running from Taylor then plunged the
innings into further strife, and when Dwayne Smith produced the perfect
outswinger to Stuart Matsikenyeri, half the side was back in the dressing
room within 13 overs.
A direct hit from Wavell Hinds saw off the chunky Piet Rinke, and Elton
Chigumbura's attempt to slog the team out of trouble only resulted in
another wicket for Smith. With the lowest Champions Trophy total - the
United States made a whopping 65 against Australia in the last edition -
under threat, Utseya and Ireland merely delayed the inevitable.
But for Utseya's gritty 27, the embarrassment would have been even more
acute.
Gayle proved effective for the mopping up, and his violent flails as
the shadows lengthened ensured that the electricity bill for the lights
would be a very small one indeed.
How they were out
Zimbabwe
Chamu Chibhabha b Bradshaw 1 (9 for 1)
No idea about one that nipped back
No idea about one that nipped back
Hamilton Masakadza b Taylor 1 (10 for 2)
Beaten by swing and pace, off stump pegged back
Beaten by swing and pace, off stump pegged back
Tafadzwa Mufambisi c Baugh b Taylor 18 (31 for 3)
Surprised by a quick bouncer, fended behind
Surprised by a quick bouncer, fended behind
Brendan Taylor run out (Chanderpaul) 7 (31 for 4)
Suicidal attempt at a single after playing the ball straight to the fielder at short mid-off
Suicidal attempt at a single after playing the ball straight to the fielder at short mid-off
Stuart Matsikenyeri c Baugh b Smith 7 (39 for 5)
Undone by late away movement, regulation catch
Undone by late away movement, regulation catch
Piet Rinke run out (Hinds) 1 (46 for 6)
Sent back, and caught short by the direct hit from midwicket
Sent back, and caught short by the direct hit from midwicket
Elton Chigumbura c Taylor b Smith 10 (58 for 7)
Attempt to biff over the top goes no further than mid-off
Attempt to biff over the top goes no further than mid-off
Anthony Ireland b Gayle 6 (82 for 8)
Played inside an off break, off stump pushed back
Played inside an off break, off stump pushed back
Ed Rainsford c Bravo b Gayle 0 (84 for 9)
Slash outside off stump goes to the left of slip, sharp catch
Slash outside off stump goes to the left of slip, sharp catch
Prosper Utseya lbw Gayle 27 (85 all out)
Trapped in front going for a pull
Trapped in front going for a pull
West Indies
Chris Gayle c Kamungozi b Chigumbura 41 (66 for 1)
One hoick too many, and the top edge drops to the man at midwicket
One hoick too many, and the top edge drops to the man at midwicket
Dileep Premachandran is features editor of Cricinfo