West Indies Bag The 2nd One Easily
A breathtaking hundred from Wavell Hinds, coupled with a sparkling knock by
Chris Gayle gave the West Indies a resounding win over Zimbabwe at Sabina
Park. They beat Zimbabwe by 41 runs in a display which delighted a capacity
crowd.
Hinds smashed 116, whilst Gayle hit a bludgeoning 58 at better than a
run-a-ball to set Zimbabwe an imposing victory target of 281. Some bizarre
selection may well have cost Zimbabwe dear. Johnson and Campbell were
replaced by Viljoen and Whittall. Johnson will be going to Dhaka to play for
a world XI next week, so dropping him from a poor Zimbabwe team defied
belief.
Adams won the toss and elected to bat on a decent, smooth looking pitch. The
game was played in front of a capacity crowd. The WICB suggest 15,000 were
at Sabina, but the true figure could have been as many as 3,000 more.
Campbell and Wallace got the West Indian innings off to a quick start.
Wallace clubbed two boundaries straight down the ground, and Campbell hit a
leg side boundary. A couple of economical overs from Nkala put the brakes
on, and something had to give. In his first over, Brent yorked Saturday's
centurion Campbell. Nkala and Brent then did a marvellous job of tying the
West Indies down. Wallace, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, did not look
content. The big man soon aimed a massive slog which went through the gate
to give Brent his second wicket.
Hinds and Adams then set about a recovery mission. Hinds played a flamboyant
drive over the bowlers head, whilst Adams drove the impressive Nkala down
the round for four. He looked ready to attack, and walloped a Whittall full
toss out of the reach of sub Brian Murphy for four.
Hinds then hit Whittall back over his head for four more, before despatching
Viljoen on the leg-side. The left-handed Hinds reached his 50, from 69
balls, with a well timed sweep for one. Viljoen was punished next ball as
Adams drove past mid-on for yet another boundary.
A period of consolidation followed, until a running mix-up caused the fall
of Jimmy Adams. Hinds pushed for a single, and the resulting direct hit saw
Adams well short of his ground.
The new man Chris Gayle struggled initially, but once he had found his feet,
the West Indies began to run away with the game. Hinds launched Flower for a
big six, then hit a one bounce four. On his part, Gayle played a wonderful
cover drive, then hit Olonga high over long off for another maximum hit. The
two men compiled their 50 partnership in 43 balls. As if this were not
enough, Hinds was dropped by Grant Flower from the bowling of Nkala. Chris
Gayle lifted Viljoen for four in between long on and deep mid wicket, and a
massive total looked on.
As the batsmen grew in confidence, so the runs flowed, both Gayle and Hinds
showing no respect from some military medium bowling. There were two bright
spots for Zimbabwe, the bowling of Mluleki Nkala and some truly magnificent
fielding. Nkala finished with 0-38, after being severely punished in his
final over.
The massive crowd were prepared to celebrate two of their country-men reach
landmarks. Gayle reached his 50 first, with a drive to long on for a single.
Hinds, who had been hit on the back of the head just minutes before with a
mis-directed throw at the stumps, soon reached his century. He pulled
Whittall for a one-bounce four just out of the reach of Brent, to reach his
first ODI century.
In the final overs we saw reverse-sweeps, fielding errors and Chinese cuts.
Hinds hit a fine cut for four in the final over to complete a magnificent
display of batsmanship.
The final score, 280-3, meant that 100 runs had been scored from the last
ten overs. It was a magnificent performance by these two young Jamaicans.
Hinds finished on 116 from 126 balls. He hit 12 fours and a six. Chris Gayle
smashed 58 from 45 with five fours and a six. For Zimbabwe, the only bright
spot was the bowling of Mluleki Nkala, and they faced an enormous challenge
if they were to get close to this target. They had made a mistake in
dropping Johnson, who would surely have been their only hope.
The first few overs of the Zimbabwe reply realised all of their fears. It
quickly became clear that they needed a miracle to win this match. This
Zimbabwe side does not have a miracle-maker.
Ambrose and King beat the bat with consummate ease in their opening overs.
Grant Flower at least stayed in line, but Craig Wishart was floundering out
of his depth. King's third was another brilliant over, another maiden.
Zimbabwe had scored five runs from 36 balls.
Then, for a while at least, all hell broke loose. Flower cracked King for
three boundaries in an over, and King replied with a vicious ball which
lifted from a length.
A cracking slower ball from Ambrose accounted for Grant Flower in the 11th
over. Flower advanced down the track and was completely beaten by the lack
of pace. Ambrose was ecstatic to see the off-stump out of the ground.
Reon King captured a well deserved wicket when Wishart, who was not doing a
job for Zimbabwe, edged to Jacobs. Umpire Bucknor sent Wishart dismissivley
on his way, with a flash of the hand. The fielding restrictions were lifted
with the score just 33-2, as it became clear the WIndies were playing
exhibition cricket, with Zimbabwe desperately trying to avoid being
skittled.
Murray Goodwin looked in decent touch, hitting consecutive boundaries off
the wayward Mervyn Dillon. At the other end, Ambrose gave nothing to hit.
The big man finished with 1-19 from his ten. Dillon though, was
disappointed, his fifth over was, frankly lousy. He was lucky only to be hit
for one four, a big hit from Carlisle over mid-on.
Whilst Carlisle was gaining in confidence, Murray Goodwin's time was
numbered. He tried to pull a good-length ball from Rose, got an under edge
which removed two stumps. They water the stump holes at Sabina Park, and the
results are often spectacular.
Andy Flower was the new man, and he and Carlisle set about putting together
a partnership. They reached their 50 stand at a run a ball. West Indies felt
that they could afford to experiment, and brought Sherwin Campbell into the
attack. Carlisle reached his 50 soon afterwards, with a decent glide to
third man for a single. Zimbabwe's final hopes were not quite dead, so long
as this pair stayed together.
Sadly, they did not. Carlisle was caught at mid-off for 57 trying to loft
King, Hinds took a regulation catch. A few balls previous, he was dropped by
Curtly Ambrose, who made a lazy one handed effort.
Dirk Viljoen edged for four, then straight to the newly positioned slip
fieldsman to give King his fiftieth one-day wicket. The game as a contest
was dead.
Andy Flower still played some spirited cricket. He hit first Powell then
Dillon for four with well timed back foot drives. Dillon, who had been the
loose screw of this attack, saw sloppiness deny him a wicket. He had Guy
Whittall well caught by Rose, but to no avail, it was a no-ball.
After 40 overs, Zimbabwe were one ahead of the West Indies: 181-5 as opposed
to the home side's 180-3. The boundaries weren't flowing, however. Flower
reached his 50 from 51 balls, a super innings which was ended on 52 when he
skied Adams to Ambrose at long-on. Zimbabwe's last hopes had gone, with just
Streak and the tail to come.
Whittall played some enterprising reverse sweeps, one of which gave him four
runs, but time was running out quick. A direct-hit from Rose called the
third umpire into action, but Streak had made his ground. All this was
academic. Streak was dismissed soon after, but not before Guy Whittall
questioned Umpire Morgan's decision not to give a no ball for a full toss.
Streak was run out by Powell for seven, who fielded well all day. What was
left was fairly pointless fare, a lot of singles, and very little interest.
Nkala went in the last over, bowled by Powell. Some lusty blows in the last
over reduced the defecit to 41 runs.
During a shambles of a presenation ceremony: the microphones did not work,
Andy Flower said, "It was a disapointing performance, apart from Nkala and
Brent our bowling was ordinary. The total always seemed out of our reach."
The microphones were fixed for Adams, who told Michael Holding, "We still
have work to do. The fellas are going to go home for a couple of days rest
and (we'll meet up) in Antigua five days before the next match." Wavell
Hinds was named Man of the Match.
This continued the WIndies perfect record over Zimbabwe, this was their
eighth win of eight. Two great innings and some fine bowling from Reon King
will have been greatly encouraging to West Indies fans. Zimbabwe have a
couple of days to think about this game, before meeting Pakistan in Antigua
on Wednesday.
