West Indies put nightmare behind them to secure win against Zimbabwe

After the horrendous display two days ago at the Sydney Cricket Ground, when they were dismissed by Zimbabwe for 91, the West Indies came back to win their sixth game by 77 runs with 6.4 overs left - a rather comfortable win in the end.

Set to get 253 in 47 overs, through the dreaded Duckworth-Lewis method following afternoon rains, Zimbabwe could only manage 175 in 40.2 overs.

Zimbabwe did have a chance, though, when the Flower brothers were at the crease, after their team had slumped to 47/3 in the 12th over. The Flowers put on 90 runs for the fourth wicket before Andy Flower, having just completed his half-century, gave Mohendra Nagamootoo a difficult return catch to his left, the bowler taking it well, to leave Zimbabwe 137/4 in over 33.

Three overs later, Zimbabwe's hopes dimmed greatly when Grant Flower followed his brother to the dressing room having made 41 and Zimbabwe were left on 149/5.

Even the normally reliable Heath Streak did not last, out lbw to Nagamootoo for three. And that was, more or less, the end for Zimbabwe. They were eventually dismissed for 175 in the 41st over, losing by 77 runs.

For the West Indies, Nagamootoo was the best bowler with 4/32 from 7.2 overs.

Earlier, the West Indies, having won the toss, elected to bat first in temperatures of 38 degrees centigrade, and managed 235/6 from 47 overs before a short, sharp shower put paid to the official end of their innings.

After losing both openers, Darren Ganga and Sherwin Campbell, by the time the score was 16, the West Indies must have thought that they had made the wrong decision to bat first.

Brian Lara looked rather rusty, and was dropped, badly so, when he was ten, and then, from another, more difficult chance, at 22. Then he settled down with the much more composed Marlon Samuels to effect a recovery.

The two took the score to 149, a partnership of 133 for the third wicket, before Samuels was out for a well made 68, including six fours and one six, in the 35th over.

Lara lasted another six overs before he was next out for a scratchy 70, but the two, Lara and Samuels, had done the repair job and the West Indies were 183/4 in the 41st over.

Zimbabwe conceded 52 runs in the last nine overs, with Ricardo Powell getting 33 in 26 deliveries, while Nagamootoo managed a well-struck 22 from 12 deliveries. Heath Streak, the Zimbabwean captain, as usual, was the best bowler, with 3/27 from eight overs.

While they could not capitalise properly, the West Indies should have been relatively pleased with the total of 235/7 in 47 overs.

Marlon Samuels, who made 68, was adjudged "Man of the Match."

So, the West Indies have nosed in front of Zimbabwe, having four points from six games, while Zimbabwe have two points from four games. Australia have won all four of their games, giving them eight points. Each team plays eight games.

Zimbabwe and the West Indies will meet again on 2 February at the WACA in Perth, but before that, the West Indies must play Australia on 26 January, Australia Day, at the Adelaide Cricket Ground.