2nd Match: West Indies v Zimbabwe at Colombo, 09 Dec 2001 CricInfo Live Report

2nd Match: West Indies v Zimbabwe at Colombo, 09 Dec 2001
Charlie Austin

West Indies innings: 15 overs, 30 overs, Close,
Pre-game: Pre-Match,
Zimbabwe innings: 15 overs,

EARLY WICKET FOR WEST INDIES BEFORE ZIMBABWEAN SHIP IS STEADIED

West Indian hopes were briefly buoyed by a first-ball wicket but thereafter Zimbabwe’s batsmen accumulated steadily as West Indies failed to take their chances.

After 15 overs Zimbabwe were 53 for one, chasing 173. Opener Grant Flower, who lived a charmed life, was 26 not out whilst captain Stuart Carlisle had scored 23.

Zimbabwe need to score the 173 runs in 40 overs if they are to pick up an extra bonus point.

Pedro Collins had given the West Indians a perfect start when he trapped Dion Ebrahims lbw with his first ball. It was the second day in a row that Ebrahims had been dismissed for a golden duck, both in a similar manner.

But Zimbabwe did not fold like they had done yesterday and battled hard against the new ball.

Grant Flower was lucky to survive when catches dropped short of Hooper at first slip (Jacobs possibly guilty of not diving across) and Collins at mid-off when he had scored 19. Then, when he had made 25, Daren Ganga spilled a simple catch off a top edged pull.

ZIMBABWE BOWL OUT WEST INDIES FOR 173 AT SSC

West Indies look set to lose the opening game of their LG Abans triangular series campaign at the Sinhalese Sports Club after being bowled out for just 173 by Zimbabwe on Sunday afternoon.

West Indies lost regular wickets after Zimbabwe ended a 60 run stand for the fifth wicket between Daren Ganga and Marlon Samuels.

The pair had been milking Zimbabwe’s part-time spinners profitably and Ganga had just reached his fifth one-day fifty (77 balls; 5x4) when Samuels advanced down the wicket to Grant Flower and drove a catch straight to Tatendra Taibu - the second choice wicket-keeper apparently playing as a batsman in this side – who fumbled the ball at first but eventually clung on to it with a desperate last grab.

Samuels had scored 32 (65 balls; 2x4) and had added 60 runs for the fifth wicket (137 for five).

Ganga was dismissed four overs later, as he was caught and bowled by Flower, again trying to drive straight down the ground. The right-hander had scored 59 (89 balls;5x4).

Zimbabwean captain Stuart Carlisle had brought his pace bowlers back when Marillier had finished his ten over quota and they started to chip away at the lower order.

Neil McGarrell was trapped lbw for one by a full-length delivery from Travis Friend (153 for seven), Pedro Collins was caught by Grant Flower for four as he tried to smear Mluleki Nkala for a boundary (161 for eight), and Marlon Black was trapped lbw by Heath Streak (163 for nine).

The last pair of Corey Colleymore and Ridley Jacobs (20) cobbled together some useful extra runs before Streak pulled off a smart, juggling catch on the mid-wicket boundary to end the innings.

TWO SOFT WEST INDIAN DISMISSALS BOOST ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe, looking for the first win against a major cricket country for ten months, were boosted by two soft West Indian dismissals at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

After 30 overs West Indies were 107 for four with opener Daren Ganga on 39 and Marlon Samuels on 17.

West Indies had been going well with Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ganga at the wicket, but Sarwan then played across a delivery from Henry Olonga on off-stump and was bowled for 36, having faced 56 balls and hit six boundaries (66 for three).

Captain Carl Hooper was then run out for five when Ganga called wrongly for a single. Ganga literally pushed the ball straight back to Olonga following through, who hit the stumps directly with an underarm flick (77 for four).

Samuels then joined Ganga and the pair looked to milk the Zimbabwean slower bowlers, off break bowler Douglas Marillier and left-arm spinner Grant Flower, who bowled in tandem after a good spell from Olonga (8-1-26-1).

Ganga, who has hit four boundaries, including a glorious cover drive off Olonga, was missed on 36 when he should have been run out but was saved after a fumble at the non-strikers end by Marillier.

WEST INDIES RECOVER AFTER TWO EARLY SET-BACKS

West Indies recovered from the early loss of opener Chris Gayle and star batsman Brian Lara at the Sinhalese Sports Club thanks to an unbeaten third wicket partnership between Daren Ganga and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

After 15 overs were 59 for two and going strong with Sarwan on 32 and Ganga on 17. The pair had added 50 runs in 61 balls.

Zimbabwe started the day with a bonus wicket in the very first over as Chris Gayle was run out for a duck. The left-hander played the ball square of the wicket on the off-side and called for a quick single but was left inches short after a direct hit from Dion Ebrahim (0 for 1).

Heath Streak then managed what the Sri Lankan bowlers consistently failed to do through their Test tour: dismiss Lara cheaply. The left-hander was trapped lbw for two as he walked across his stumps and played across an inswinger that pitched on leg-stump.

Sarwan then counterattacked with a series of boundaries. He started with two fortuitous edges over the slips before finding his touch with a thumping pull in front of square, a leg glance and a square cut all off Streak.

Ganga played second fiddle but still had time for two fours: a solid looking on-drive and leg glance in Henry Olonga’s first over.

ZIMBABWE WIN THE TOSS AND ELECT TO BOWL FIRST AT SSC

Zimbabwe won the toss and with their chastening experience yesterday morning still fresh in their minds they elected to field first against West Indies in the second LG Abans triangular series match at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Sunday.

It was the first time in four tour matches that Zimbabwean captain Stuart Carlisle has won the toss and he will be hoping his seam bowlers can now exploit any early morning moisture in the pitch.

But they will have to bowl well because this is the same wicket that was used yesterday, after which it was baked dry during the afternoon. It should have lost its bite and should the West Indies survive the first hour or so then there are plenty of runs on offer.

West Indies included pace bowler Corry Colleymore for the first time in the tour in place of Mervyn Dillon who was sent home for disciplinary reasons. The other fast bowlers are Marlon Black and Pedro Collins.

Left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell comes into the side as the second spinner (Carl Hooper is the other) whilst the batting line-up remains the same as the Test matches.

Zimbabwe picked the same side that lost yesterday.

Zimbabwe:

Stuart Carlisle, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Dion Ebrahim, Craig Wishart, Douglas Marillier, Tatendra Taibu, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga, Heath Streak, Mluleki Nkala,

West Indies:

Carl Hooper (Capt), Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Marlon Samuels, Ridley Jacobs, Neil McGarrell, Pedro Collins, Corey Colleymore, Marlon Black