Sibanda hundred secures victory for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe 259 for 7 (Sibanda 116, Taylor 55) beat Bermuda 176 (Mupariwa 3-19, Mahwire 3-29) by 83 runs
Scorecard

Vusi Sibanda hits out on his way to 116 © ICC

A steady ton from Vusi Sibanda helped Zimbabwe complete a comfortable 83-run victory over Bermuda in the final of the ICC tri-nations One Day International tournament at the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad on Saturday.

Sibanda's 137-ball 116 gave Zimbabwe a good cushion against a struggling Bermuda side, after a start that promised more than 300 runs was wasted with a procession of wickets in the last 15 overs.

But 260 would always be a very tough ask for Bermuda, and they just could not find the mix of aggression and defence to take control of the match, and they were behind from the start.

Zimbabwe struck in the third over, Tawanda Mupariwa removing opener Treadwell Gibbons lbw for no score with only three on the board for Bermuda. Gibbons' partner Azeem Pitcher (1) was next to go, edging behind to wicket-keeper Brendan Taylor off Mupariwa.

Saleem Mukaddem and Irving Romaine then had a partnership of 59 for Bermuda, but it was hardly a rescue act, as Mukaddem's 25 came off 74 balls, while Romaine scored 23 off 73.

Mukaddem's stay ended with the score on 59, caught by Sibanda off Prosper Utseya, and three runs later Romaine was back in the pavilion due to the same bowler, Justice Chibhabha taking the catch this time.

Skipper Janeiro Tucker gave brief hope before he was trapped plumb in front by Blessing Mahwire, which brought wicket-keeper/batsman Dean Minors to the wicket.

Minors hit a run-a-ball 29 before he became Mahwire's second victim, caught by Keith Dabengwa, and then Hasan Durham joined Lionel Cann at the wicket.

Cann's had a brief, but entertaining cameo where he hit two sixes, including a huge one where he hoisted off-spinner Ryan Higgins beyond the midwicket boundary, and over the Errol Dos Santos Stand.

Durham gave Mahwire his third wicket, playing down the wrong line and being bowled. Cann followed two runs later with his team's total on 151, swiping at one only to be caught at cover by Sibanda after he reached 40 off 35 balls.

Kwame Tucker, who needed to have a runner late in the innings, was left stranded on four when Dwayne Leverock was removed by Piet Rinke for 2, and then last man George O'Brien was run out attempting a suicide single after a nine-ball 16.