The Hindu : Sport : Williams, Taylor prop up Zimbabwe

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Tuesday, Mar 20, 2007
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Williams, Taylor prop up Zimbabwe

KINGSTON: Left-hander Sean Williams hit a career-best, unbeaten 70 here on Monday to lift Zimbabwe to 202 for five off 50 overs in their Group D Cricket World Cup match against the West Indies at Sabina Park.

The left-hander lashed seven fours off 88 balls as Zimbabwe recovered from losing its first two wickets in 2.2 overs.

Williams shared restorative stands of 83 with Brendon Taylor (50) and 60 unbroken with Elton Chigumbura (30 not out).

Jerome Taylor took two for 42 while there was a wicket apiece for Daren Powell and Dwayne Smith.

Taylor rattled Zimbabwe in the second over as 18-year-old Friday Kasteni, in only his second one-day international, was bowled first ball.

Zimbabwe, with all 11 players under the age of 24, slumped to two for two in the next over. Vusi Sibanda, who took a half century off Ireland in the opening match, was bowled for one as he played no stroke an indipper.

Wicket-keeper-batsman Taylor and Chamu Chibhabha settled the early wobble in a third-wicket stand of 29 before Jerome Taylor struck again at 31 for three.

Chibhabha (12) played across a fast yorker and was the third batsman to have his stumps disturbed.

Stuart Matsikenyeri shared another useful stand of 28 with Taylor before he gifted his wicket as he lofted to mid-on off the medium pace of Smith. The diminutive right-hander, who topscored with an unbeaten 73 in the tie against Ireland, hit two fours in 16.

At 59-4 in the 18th over, West Indies were well on top.

But Taylor and Williams shook off the home team's dominance in a level-headed association that realized 83 offr 140 balls.

The 20-year-old Williams was the more aggressive as he played a number of fluent strokes through the off side.

But Taylor was first to his half century, his 11th in one-day internationals spanning 121 balls. Shortly afterwards, a mix-up with Williams ended his knock with a Dwayne Bravo run out.

The dismissal failed to dent the Zimbabwe charge and Williams and Chigumbura added 60 off the last nine overs. - AP

SCOREBOARD

Zimbabwe: V. Sibanda b Powell 1, F. Kasteni b Taylor 0, J. Chibhabha b Taylor 12, B. Taylor (run out) 50, S. Matsikenyeri c Powell b Smith 16, S. Williams (not out) 70, E. Chigumbura (not out) 30; Extras (b-1, lb-7, w-15) 23; Total (for five wkts. in 50 overs) 202.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-31, 4-59, 5-142.

West Indies bowling: Powell 6-1-15-1, Taylor 10-0-42-2, Collymore 9-0-29-0, Smith 5-0-28-1, Gayle 10-1-32-0, Samuels 10-1-48-0.

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