The opening match of the Coca-Cola Singapore Challenge turned out to be a cracker of a One-Day game. The small ground, racy outfield and true batting wicket set the stage for an entertaining contest. Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell won the toss and elected to bat first.

West Indian opening bowlers Courtney Walsh and Merv Dillon bowled a tight line and length, not giving the Zimbabwe batsmen any room to play their shots. Neil Johnson is an attacking batsman by nature and could not resist going after a short ball outside off-stump from Dillon. All Johnson managed to do was edge a catch to Jacobs who accepted the offering gratefully. After the fall of Johnson's wicket, the West Indian pacemen tied down the Zimbabwe batsmen. In the 11th over Zimbabwe lost Grant Flower who cut a wide ball from Hendy Bryan to Lara at point. Shortly after, Goodwin made heavy weather of a Reon King bouncer and spooned an easy catch to Ricardo Powell in the slips. At this stage Zimbabwe were reeling at 38 for 3.

Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell and Andy Flower then took charge of the Zimbabwe innings. Flower and Campbell batted sensibly and were severe on any loose bowling. Both batsmen were especially severe on Jimmy Adams who went for 18 runs off his first 2 overs. Campbell played a crucial role in Zimbabwe's revival, slamming 3 sixes in his innings. The two pushed the Zimbabwe score on to 152 before Campbell top-edged a skier to Jacobs. Campbell had made 80 off 103 balls. Andy Blignaut made no impact in his first appearance, and was dismissed for just 1 run. Stuart Carlisle began indifferently but thereafter got into the groove and accelerated the scoring rate. Hendy Brian removed Carlisle and Evans in quick succession. Walsh then knocked Strang's stumps over and Zimbabwe ended their innings at 244 for 9.

West Indies came out needing 245 for victory off 50 overs. The way Campbell and Jacobs attacked the bowling, one would have thought they wanted to make the runs in 30 overs. Campbell was in fine form and played some cracking cut shots that were reminiscent of Carribean batsmen of old. When the ball was short, Campbell was on the back foot in a flash and cracked the ball to the fence. If the ball was up for the drive, Campbell swung cleanly through the line and sent the ball whizzing through the off-side. Jacobs was not too far behind. Jacobs took the aerial route more often than Campbell and tonked three 3 in his knock of 47. The West Indies were going along at a fast clip and in no time were 66 for no loss of 10 overs. Campbell and Jacobs never slowed down their assault and finally Campbell was bowled by Grant Flower. Campbell had made 63 off 65 balls.

Jacobs departed soon after, being run out attempting one run too many. With the fall of two quick wickets West Indies were 116 for 2 after 20 overs. Any hopes the Zimbabweans must have had of getting back into the game were dashed by a swashbuckling Lara innings. Lara showed rare form and hit the bowling all over the park. Lara was especially severe on the slower bowlers, hitting them straight back down the ground for 4 huge sixes. Jimmy Adams looked uncomfortable from the beginning and dragged the ball back onto his stumps after scoring just 1 run. Chanderpaul walked out to join Lara and the two forged a solid partnership. Chanderpaul proved to be an ideal foil for Lara as he defended solidly and rotated the strike as much as he could. With the score on 176 Lara top-edged a pull shot off Strang and was well caught by Alistair Campbell at short-third man.

Ricardo Powell walked to the middle and showed everybody why Viv Richards' name comes to people when they watch him bat. Easily one of the most powerful strikers of the ball in world cricket, Powell showed no mercy. Striking sixes and fours at will, Powell tore the Zimbabwe bowling to shreds. Each six Powell hit seemed to be bigger than the previous six and he took the match completely away from the Zimbabweans. Powell powered the West Indies to victory off 43.4 overs with 6 wickets in hand. At the end of the innings Chanderpaul had made 26 patient runs while Powell's blitz left him on 51 off just 36 balls. For his four catches and cameo of 47 off 48 balls Ridley Jacobs was adjudged man of the match.