Campbell / Lara annihilate attack

The West Indian batting finally got its act together on a fine pitch at Riverside to amass a virtually unbeatable total of 287 for five wickets against Zimbabwe. A century from Campbell and an inimitable 86 from Lara helped to annihilate an innocuous Zimbabwe bowling line-up after they won the toss on a fine batting pitch. However badly the West Indians bowl, the target is likely to be out of Zimbabwe's reach.

The onslaught continued, with the Zimbabweans helpless to stem the flow of runs. On a good pitch, they do not have the firepower of the England bowlers, especially when the sun began to come out after about one o'clock, and Streak was not at his best. A pull for four off Streak brought Lara to his fifty off 55 balls, and then hit Viljoen for a two powerful leg-side fours and two sixes, straight and over long-off, in the same over. Rennie, who also fielded superbly on the boundary, was alone in keeping the scoring rate down by bowling consistently in the blockhole.

Campbell was on 91 when Lara reached the fifties, but so dominant was the latter that he had reached 86 when Campbell reached his century, off 133 balls. Lara played some extravagant and unorthodox strokes, but now looked the complete master. It was a complete surprise when, on 87, he gave himself room to lash Viljoen through point and was bowled. West Indies were 259 for two in the 46th over. Powell scored a single, then Campbell (105) immediately clipped Viljoen straight to Alistair Campbell at midwicket. Both batsmen received standing ovations from the crowd; their partnership had been worth 173.

Alistair Campbell took another catch, this time at mid-off, in the following over, bowled by Streak, as Gayle (3) mistimed a drive against Streak; West Indies 265 for four. Powell and Jacobs had little time left to start from scratch, and a fine throw from Streak ran out the former for 12; 284 for five in the final over.