Masakadza bowls Zimbabwe to victory over West Indies

Debutant Shingirai Masakadza took two wickets in the final over to help Zimbabwe to a two-run victory over West Indies [ Images ] in the first One-day International in Guyana on Thursday.

West Indies, chasing 255 for victory, needed 15 off the final over with three wickets in hand but Masakadza bowled Dwayne Smith [ Images ] (4) and Sulieman Benn was caught at midwicket next ball.

With the hosts requiring four off the final ball, Masakadza bowled a yorker to Kemar Roach who could only pick up a single to give Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the five-match series,

The West Indies run chase got off to a good start with captain Chris Gayle [ Images ] (57) and Adrian Barath (50) striking up a 99-run opening partnership before four wickets fell for 66 runs.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul [ Images ] steadied the West Indies and put them within sight of victory with a quick-fire 70 before being caught off the bowling of Masakadza, younger brother of Zimbabwe opener Hamilton.

Zimbabwe's Vusi Sibanda fell five runs short of his century in 162-ball innings that included five fours and a six as the visitors reached 254 for five in their 50 overs.

The second ODI is in Guyana on Saturday.

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe
H. Masakadza lbw b Miller 41
V. Sibanda b Roach 95
T. Taibu lbw b Pollard 56
B. Taylor run out 1
E. Chigumbura c Fletcher b Pollard 27
S. Matsikenyeri not out 16
G. Lamb not out 2
Extras (lb-2, b-4, w-7, nb-3) 16
Total (for five wickets; 50 overs) 254
Fall of wickets: 1-67, 2-167, 3-168, 4-215, 5-241
Bowling: K. Roach 9-0-34-1, S. Benn 10-4-38-0, D. Smith 3-0-18-0, K. Pollard 10-0-59-2, N. Miller 10-1-52-1, N. Deonarine 8-0-47-0.

West Indies
C. Gayle lbw b Lamb 57
A. Barath b Chigumbura 50
S. Chanderpaul c Chigumbura b S. Masakadza 70
A. Fletcher run out 6
N. Deonarine run out 17
K. Pollard c Taylor b Utseya 5
D. Ramdin b Chigumbura 8
D. Smith b S. Masakadza 4
N. Miller not out 12
S. Benn c Cremer b S. Masakadza 0
K. Roach not out 1
Extras (b-2, lb-7, w-11, nb-2) 22
Total (for nine wickets; 50 overs) 252
Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-126, 3-136, 4-165, 5-193, 6-233, 7-235, 8-251, 9-251
Bowling: P. Utseya 10-1-47-1, R. Price 10-1-31-0, A. Cremer 10-0-48-0, S. Masakadza 3-0-36-3, G. Lamb 10-0-35-1,
E. Chigumbura 5-0-32-2, B. Taylor 2-0-14-0