da aposte e ganhe： Zimbabwe, without Andy Flower and with never-ending political wrangling inthe background, had another dismal innings with the bat that has virtuallyensured another heavy defeat at the hands of the resurgent West Indies
da bwin： John Ward27-Jul-2001Zimbabwe, without Andy Flower and with never-ending political wrangling inthe background, had another dismal innings with the bat that has virtuallyensured another heavy defeat at the hands of the resurgent West Indies.Their overall performance was, if anything, even worse than it had been inBulawayo as they mustered a mere 131 with the bat and allowed West Indies tofinish the day just five runs behind with eight wickets left.West Indies, expecting early assistance from the conditions, put Zimbabwe into bat on winning the toss, but although the pitch gave some movement, itwas too slow to please them. They made two changes to their team, bringingin Marlon Black and Courtney Browne for Pedro Collins, unfit, and thesuspended Ridley Jacobs.Zimbabwe made only one change from the team that lost the First Test inBulawayo, and that was forced on them. Seventeen-year-old schoolboy HamiltonMasakadza came in for the injured Stuart Carlisle. Thirteen days short of his18th birthday, he became Zimbabwe’s youngest first-class century-makerearlier this season, and now becomes Zimbabwe’s youngest Test player.Normally Gavin Rennie would have been considered, but he is manifestly out of form and confidence at present and in the two matches where he and Masakadza have played together, the latter has looked the more impressive. Masakadza normally opens the batting, but in this match he would bat at number three rather than break up the record-breaking partnership of Alistair Campbell and Dion Ebrahim, especially as he would not be available regularly until Decemberbecause of his exams.Ebrahim, full of confidence after his 75 in Bulawayo, began like a trainwith positive strokeplay, scoring 19 out of the first 20 when he droveloosely outside the off stump to Reon King and edged a catch to ‘keeper Browne.Hamilton Masakadza replaced him, and his first runs, a turn to long leg fortwo, was greeted rapturously by an enthusiastic group of his schoolmates.Campbell (13) began slowly but played a couple of delightful pulls before hewas beaten and trapped lbw missing a straight ball from Colin Stuart.Masakadza, employing a high backlift, made nine before being bowled by a superbyorker from Stuart, and Zimbabwe were 43 for three. All three settled in,made a few and then lost their wickets.Craig Wishart and Guy Whittall had to dig in to put the innings on even keelagain, and runs came slowly. But Wishart (8) fell with the first ball afterlunch, unwisely padding up to Neil McGarrell’s arm ball to be plumb lbw;Grant Flower was perhaps doubtfully adjudged caught at the wicket next ball,and Heath Streak came in to save a hat-trick at 63 for five. He scored onlysix before another arm ball from the left-arm spinner trapped him right infront of his stumps; 68 for six.Umpire Jayaprakash made another disputed caught-at-the-wicket decision when AndyBlignaut (0) drove expansively at McGarrell outside the off stump, to givethe bowler his fourth wicket since lunch for only one run. Whittallresponded with a couple of furious strokes off King, who was unable tomaintain pressure from his end, but then settled down to play a responsiblefighting innings. Television replays failed to confirm whether either caught-at-the-wicket decision was correct.King made amends for his indifferent bowling with a fine, low catch atmid off as Tatenda Taibu (9) ballooned a catch off pad and bat, Stuart beingthe bowler; 95 for eight, with the partnership of 23 being the highest ofthe innings. Another partnership seemed to be developing with Bryan Strangwhen Whittall, on 43, pulled Marlon Black straight to mid-wicket, adisappointing end to a fine innings of defiance. Strang (20) still had afew of his own special strokes to offer, mowing and swatting until he skiedBlack to cover. Tea was taken with Zimbabwe all out for a dismal 131.McGarrell took four wickets and Stuart three.Zimbabwe were relieved that Chris Gayle did not continue his decimation oftheir bowling this time, as he played across a ball from Bryan Strang to beadjudged lbw, though possibly a little high. Zimbabwe also believed theyhad Daren Ganga caught at the wicket off Strang on 20; again, televisionproved inconclusive.Ganga and Shivnarine Chanderpaul now began to open up in a flurry ofboundaries and the overall run rate approached five an over. Not evenStrang was able to apply the brake and Streak alone had presentable figures.Chanderpaul especially took advantage of much mediocre bowling and raced tohis fifty off 51 balls.Ganga, less fluent but still impressive, was rather surprisingly out caughtat the wicket off the unimpressive Blignaut for 43, getting an inside edgewhen trying at the last minute to leave a ball outside off stump. The pairhad added exactly 100 and West Indies were 114 for two. With Sarwan in thescoring rate slowed, and at the close West Indies were 126 for two off 32overs (Chanderpaul 74, Sarwan 2).
