South Africa v West Indies - Tour Match

Zimbabwe v West Indians
Bulawayo Athletic Club
4 Day Game
Umpires: ID Robinson & RB Tiffin
Toss: West Indians

ZIM: GW Flower, GJ Rennie, ADR Campbell, *DL Houghton, +A Flower, NC Johnson, GJ Whittall, HH Streak, BC Strang, AJ Traicos, HK Olonga.
WI: CC Hunte, RC Fredericks, RB Kanhai, IVA Richards, CH Lloyd, *GStA Sobers, +PJL Dujon, MD Marshall, MA Holding, LR Gibbs, CA Walsh.

West Indies stopped off in Bulawayo prior to their Test series in South Africa, and a comfortable victory over Zimbabwe should mean that Garry Sobers' tourists are able to hit the ground running against the Proteas. Sobers won the toss and elected to bat under clear skies, and an assured 60 from Conrad Hunte got the innings off to a good start and enabled him to win his personal battle with Roy Fredericks for the right to partner Des Haynes in the Tests.

The middle order then flourished against Zimbabwe's toiling attack; Kanhai contributed a perky 54 to help take the score to 172-3, then Lloyd joined Richards in a stand that completely broke the Zimbabweans' resolve. The partnership reached exactly 200 come stumps on day one, and 84 further runs were added on the second morning as both batsmen powered their way to impressive centuries. Lloyd was first to go for 122, but Richards progressed to a mighty 191 before Brian Strang finally clung on to a catch off Traicos, and after a poor run of form in Season V, it looks as though it could be a return to normal service for Richards in Season VI.

The master had a blast in Bulawayo

Sobers eventually declared at lunch on the second day, and a total of 518-6 was to prove far beyond the reach of Zimbabwe's batsmen. Their first innings folded for just 135, Alistair Campbell top scoring with 21 as Holding led the way for the tourists with 4-31, and on the third day it was Malcolm Marshall who did the damage at the top of the order as Zimbabwe followed on some 383 runs behind. Andy Flower responded with a defiant 57, but Walsh cut through the tail and the curtain finally fell on Zimbabwe's second innings early on the final morning, a total of 222 handing West Indies a comfortable innings victory.

The stage is now set for what has become a highly anticipated Test series, and battle will commence in Port Elizabeth with the number one world ranking the prize for the victors.

Flower's power was not enough for Zimbabwe

Score Summary
WI 1st Inns 518-6 dec. (Richards 191, Lloyd 122, Hunte 60, Kanhai 54)
ZIM 1st Inns 135 (Holding 4-31)
ZIM 2nd Inns 222 (A Flower 57; Walsh 4-44, Marshall 4-45)

WEST INDIANS WON BY AN INNINGS & 161 RUNS

1st & 2nd innings scorecards (click to enlarge)

Close of Play

Day 1 - West Indians 1st innings 372-3 (Richards 128*, Lloyd 85*; 91 ov)
Day 2 - Zimbabwe 1st innings 128-9 (Strang 18*, Olonga 2*; 52 ov)
Day 3 - Zimbabwe 2nd innings 214-8 (Strang 16*, Traicos 23*; 71 ov)
Day 4 - Zimbabwe 2nd innings 222 (76.1 ov) - end of match