Windies A record clean sweep against Zimbabwe

ST ANDREW’S, Grenada, CMC-West Indies A ensured Zimbabwe’s build-up to the World Twenty20 Champion-ship remained rocky with a four-wicket win over the African side in a T20 game here yesterday.

Chasing Zimbabwe’s paltry 124 for eight, the Windies were propelled by a whirlwind unbeaten 60 from all-rounder Imran Khan to get home with nine balls to spare and complete a clean sweep of the two-match T20 series.

Looking down the barrel at 36 for five in the ninth over, Windies A were revived by Khan’s pulsating innings which required 34 balls and included seven fours and three sixes.

He found an ally in Assad Fudadin with whom he shared a crucial 84-run sixth wicket off just 53 balls, to deny Zimbabwe what would have been their only win of the series.

Fudadin lashed 29 from 31 balls with two fours and a six and was dismissed in the 18th over with Windies A requiring just five runs for victory.

West Indies Under-19 pacer Jason Holder then finished the match in style, belting a huge six on top the players’ pavilion off medium pacer Chamu Chibhabha as he finished on seven not out.

The Windies had seemed poised to crash to their first loss of the series when they lost openers Devon Smith (1) and Jason Haynes (6), along with captain Travis Dowlin (6) to slip to 23 for three in the fifth over.

When the in-form Kirk Edwards fell to a catch at the wicket off leg-spinner Graeme Cremer and Shane Dowrich lasted just five balls for one, Khan and Fudadin were forced into a rearguard action.

Earlier, Zimbabwe lost their way following a good start, as off-spinner Shane Shillingford finished with four for 16 and fast bowler Nelon Pascal claimed two for 35.

Chibhabha, who top scored with 33 from 34 balls with three fours, added 56 from 49 balls for the first wicket with Hamilton Masakadza whose 27 was run-a-ball effort and was decorated with four fours.
Zimbabwe then lost four quick wickets for 32 runs before Sean Ervine’s 17-ball 25 gave the innings momentum later on.