Windies slump to Zimbabwe

Spinners do the job in low-scoring game at Queen's Park Oval

Last updated: 1st March 2010  

Windies slump to Zimbabwe

Chigumbura: Crucial knock of 34

First Twenty20 International
Port of Spain
Zimbabwe 105 (D J G Sammy 5-26, S J Benn 4-6) v West Indies 79-7
Zimbabwe beat West Indies by 26 runs

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Zimbabwe recorded a 26-run triumph in an extraordinary Twenty20 International against West Indies in Trinidad.

The tourists somehow managed to recover from 0-3 to reach 105 before they were bowled out in a low-scoring contest that was dominated by spin.

Sulieman Benn finished with figures of 4-6 after opening the bowling, though Darren Sammy went one better with 5-26 to wrap up Zimbabwe's innings.

But without skipper Chris Gayle rested, West Indies never came close in reply. They finished up on 79-7 - their lowest ever total in Twenty20 action.

Shocking start

A Zimbabwe win had appeared about as likely as seeing snow fall at the Queen's Park Oval after they had lost three wickets for no runs.

Slow bowler Benn bowled Vusi Sibanda with the first ball of the match and then dismissed Tatenda Taibu and Stuart Matsikenyeri in his second over.

Brendan Taylor became the left-arm spinner's fourth victim, and the third duck of the innings, to leave the score at 11-4 after 27 balls.

To their credit, though, Zimbabwe battled back from such a shocking start. Hamilton Masakadza top-scored with 44 but it was Elton Chigumbura who provided some late impetus, belting two fours and two sixes in his 34.

Five-wicket haul

Both batsmen fell to Sammy towards the death as the all-rounder recorded the third best figures in the history of Twenty20 Internationals.

West Indies' reply started solidly enough with a 21-run partnership for the opening wicket before they lost five for 18, the dependable Shivnarine Chanderpaul (20) the fifth to fall when he was trapped lbw by Greg Lamb.

The same bowler got rid of Dwayne Smith for 12 after Graeme Creamer (3-11) had seen off the dangerous duo of Keiron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo for a combined score of one run.

Denesh Ramdin made an unbeaten 23 but it was not enough to get the hosts remotely close to their target at the end of the 20th over.

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