Windies draw first blood HARARE, Reuters):
WEST Indies overcame the absence of key batsman Brian Lara with a 27-run victory over Zimbabwe yesterday in the first one-day international of a triangular series also featuring India.
Lara withdrew from the tour to Zimbabwe on Friday with a hamstring injury, giving his team little time to fill the void. But West Indies rose to the challenge, posting a testing 266 for five in their allotted 50 overs after being put in to bat by Zimbabwe captain Grant Flower at the Harare Sports Club. Openers Chris Gayle, with 53, and Darren Ganga, 66, set the tone with a 113-run stand for the first wicket to put the visitors firmly on top. Zimbabwe never kept up with the required rate in reply and a fine bowling spell from right-arm seamer Cameron Cuffy, who bowled 10 straight overs for just 20 runs, effectively decided the match. Former Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell top-scored for the hosts with 68, but his runs came off 108 balls and included just four boundaries. West Indies got off to a positive start, bouncing back from their shock seven-wicket loss to a Zimbabwe Country Districts side on Wednesday. The left-handed Gayle was the more aggressive of the two openers, making his 53 from 76 balls with seven fours. He departed after mistiming a drive off leg-spinner Brian Murphy to Travis Friend at long-on. Ganga hit a more sedate 66, which came off 98 balls and included five boundaries. He also shared in a second-wicket stand of 55 with Wavell Hinds, which was characterised by superb running between the wickets to upset the Zimbabwean rhythm. Ganga was stumped by debutant Tatenda Taibu off Murphy but, by then, the visitors were well set. Hinds contributed 37 before being run out by Heath Streak. Shivnarine Chanderpaul then upped the tempo with a quickfire 51 in just 46 balls, with three fours and a six. In reply, Zimbabwe lost wickets at regular events as the West Indian bowlers tightened their stranglehold. Some lusty hitting from Brian Murphy, with an unbeaten 15 in the final overs, gave the score a measure of respectability. The day began on a sour note for Zimbabwe, however, when Heath Streak resigned as captain shortly before the start of play, citing differences with the team selectors. Grant Flower took over, joining his West Indies counterpart Carl Hooper for the toss. Zimbabwe play the second match of the triangular series against India at the same venue today.
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