Related Links : ICC Champions Trophy 2006 : Scorecard
Zimbabwe were a complete mismatch for West Indies who won their first game of the ICC Champions Trophy by 9 wickets. It was a terrible show put on by the Zims as they got bundled out for 85 and then the game finished just before the scheduled dinner break. It wasn’t a great bowling display from the Windies, but it was more of the poor technique displayed by the Zimbabweans with the bat that had led to a one-sided affair at the Motera in Ahmedabad.
The Motera wicket was a good one for batting with the possibility of the spinners doing the damage later considering the red soil content in the pitch. Prosper Utseya, the Zimbabwean Skipper had won the toss and elected to bat first. It was a good decision considering that the entire match lasted just the 44.3 overs and thus saving valuable time of the spectators and the people covering the match. It was in the 4th over that Zimbabwe lost its first wicket that of Justice Chibhabha who just didn’t get in line of Ian Bradshaw’s delivery to get his furniture disturbed. Hamilton Masakadza too followed Chibhabha’s technique of not getting in line of the delivery and he was cleaned up by Jerome Taylor’s delivery that skidded off the turf. Wickets were going down at regular intervals for the minnows and it was just matter of time before they got all out. A couple of run outs courtesy of poor judgment of singles and superb direct throws were aiding West Indies in cleaning up the innings.
Prosper Utseya who had come in at no.8 was the only player who looked compact and was showing the determination of not giving away his wicket. He was the last man to be dismissed in the 31st over as he went for a sweep off a quicker and fuller delivery at 94kmph from Chris Gayle. Utseya was the highest scorer with 27. The second highest scorer was Tafadzwa Mufambisi, the opener who made 18 which included a handsome straight drive for a boundary. All in all, only three Zimbabweans could get into double figures. Chris Gayle was the most successful bowler taking 3 for 3 in 3.1 overs. The part time off spinner had taken the last three wickets of the innings. Jerome Taylor picked up two wickets including a perfectly directed bouncer to force Mufambisi to fend it to Carlton Baugh. Medium Pacer Dwayne Smith had also taken a couple of wickets.
West Indies were looking to wrap up the 86-run target within the dinner break but they were forced to play the waiting game early on because of an impressive seam bowling from Edward Rainsford and Anthony Ireland. Chris Gayle after getting his eye started to take on the bowlers and once he got going, there was hardly anything to stop him from taking Windies close to 86. Gayle was also dropped twice while going for the big shots and he was out only in the 10th over as for once Zimbabwe could manage to hold onto a catch. Gayle by then had smashed 41 from 34 balls with 7 fours and a six and was dismissed by medium pacer Elton Chigumbura. All this time, Shivnarine Chanderpaul was biding his time and playing according to the merit of the ball and just didn’t mind even if there was a maiden. Skipper Brian Lara had different ideas though and he faced 20 balls to score 24 runs to end the match in grand style by lofting Prosper Utseya for consecutive sixes in the long on stands. Chanderpaul was safely unbeaten on 14 from 36 balls. Windies got to their target in 14.2 overs and got them just before the stroke of the dinner break. Chris Gayle was declared as the Man of the Match for his little efforts with both the bat and the ball.
The Zimbabweans who do not look to be fit at the International Level will get another chance to prove their worth when they take on Sri Lanka on the 10th. The Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad will be the venue for this match also.