Windies register emphatic win

Georgetown, May 8 :

Former skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit 93 off 82 balls on Sunday to pace the West Indies to a record 333 for six and an 82-run victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international at Bourda.

Fidel Edwards grabbed two wickets in the first over to dent Zimbabwe’s pursuit but the visitors rallied to post a respectable 251 for seven off 50 overs in their defeat. Elton Chigumbura, who made 60 off 59 balls, received sound support from Vusi Sibanda (52) and Justice Chibhabha (40).

Edwards led the home team’s attack with three for 42 while off-spinner Marlon Samuels took two for 48. The victory gave the West Indies a 3-0 lead in the seven-match series.

Earlier, Chanderpaul put a run drought behind him as he lashed nine fours and three sixes.

Runako Morton (79) and captain Brian Lara (56) laid the platform for the mammoth West Indies score, the highest ever total in the Caribbean. The pair put on 109 for the second wicket

after debutante opener Sewnarine Chattergoon was run out at 36/1.

Lara promoted himself to No 3 and thrilled the crowd of 10,000 with nine fours in a half century that took just 42 balls. He eventually fell to Tawanda Mupariwa, edging a catch to the wicketkeeper. Morton, who hit nine fours and a six, followed soon after in mid-innings, falling to Prosper Utseya.

Morton survived after initially being ruled run out by Billy Bowden on 64. But the umpire decided to change his decision and consult the TV replay umpire.

After walking back to the pavilion, Morton returned to the crease and once Bowden relented, TV replays confirmed that wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor had broken the stumps before the ball arrived.

Chanderpaul took over once Morton and Lara departed and, with fellow Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan, who hit a run-a-ball 40, powered the late assault. Chanderpaul fell seven short of a century when he was bowled by Edward Rainsford. Dwayne Smith hit 23 off 13 balls at the end.

Edwards gave the West Indies a quick start when they bowled. Piet Rinke lost his off stump on his first ball while captain Terrence Duffin also fell for a golden duck as he edged to the wicketkeeper. Chibhabha continued his impressive form and rallied the middle order. Sibanda compiled a solid half century in his first match of the tour while Chigumbura added four fours and three sixes.