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Zimbabwe crush Bermuda in dress rehersal

Zimbabwe will go into Saturday's ICC tri-nation series final full of confidence after cruising to a 196-run victory over Bermuda in the last preliminary match of the tournament at the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad, on Thursday

Cricinfo staff

Zimbabwe 338 for 7 (Taylor 98, Sibanda 78, Duffin 60) beat Bermuda 144 for 7 (Romaine 62) by 194 runs
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Kwame Tucker celebrates catching Terry Duffin © ICC
Zimbabwe will go into Saturday's ICC tri-nation series final full of confidence after cruising to a 196-run victory over Bermuda in the last preliminary match of the tournament at the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad, on Thursday.

Zimbabwe face the same opponents on Saturday, and they will fancy themselves to remain unbeaten in the tournament after big victories over Bermuda and Canada, the other side in the tournament.

Bermuda were always up against it after Zimbabwe posted a daunting of 338 in their 50 overs, thanks especially to a classy 98 from wicket-keeper Brendan Taylor.

In their turn at bat, Bermuda were in trouble very early on, with Kwame Tucker departing for four with the score on 16, caught by Vusi Sibanda off Blessing Mahwire, and four runs later, Daniel Morgan was caught behind off Anthony Ireland for 1.

A 60 run partnership between Treadwell Gibbons (33) and Irving Romaine (62) gave the islanders brief hope. But offspinner Prosper Utseya accounted for Gibbons, removing his off bail, and skipper Janeiro Tucker, who was next in, was a Ryan Higgins victim, caught by substitute Gregory Strydom.
Brendan Taylor hits out on his way to 98 © ICC
Mahwire returned to pick up Romaine's wicket, bowling him with a straight ball, while Azeem Pitcher contributed one run only before he fell into Keith Dabengwa's snare. Ireland also shattered Saleem Mukuddem's stumps for a duck.

Dean Minors (12) and Durham (1) took Bermuda the remaining distance, but then again the outcome of the match had already been established since the first innings.

Taylor had brought Zimbabwe to the brink of victory with a lusty 98 off 75 balls, keeping the momentum of Vusi Sibanda (78 in 71) early on.

Justice Chibhabha (43) and captain Terrence Duffin (60) who forged 101 and 108 run partnerships with Sibanda and Taylor respectively to keep the run rate up.

Taylor was prevented from reaching the milestone of a maiden century by Janeiro Tucker, who smartly bowled him from the last ball of match, even though that would have brought little consolation to the islanders as they face Zimbabwe again the impending final.