Big win for West Indies

HARARE, JULY 12. The West Indies saw off some dogged low order resistance to win the opening first class game of its tour of Zimbabwe on Wednesday, defeating a Zimbabwe Cricket Union President's XI by 214.

West Indies declared its second innings overnight on 457 for five wickets - a lead of 520 - with Chris Gayle remaining unbeaten on a career-best 259. It then dismissed the President's XI for 306, one hour into the final session.

When the home side slipped to 178 for eight half an hour before tea, victory looked a formality. But a ninth wicket partnership of 114 between Paul Strang and David Mutendera forced the tourists to dig deeper than they might have expected to clinch victory.

West Indies' cause was not helped by a deepening of its injury problems as neither strike bowler Reon King nor leg- spinner Dinanath Ramnarine was able to bowl in the final session, both suffering from back strains.

Mutendera was eventually clean bowled by Colin Stuart for 34 and the game was wrapped up when Stuart bowled Douglas Hondo for 10, leaving Strang undefeated on 81. He faced 89 balls and hit twelve 4s and a 6.

Earlier, Guy Whittall (45) and Hamilton Masikadza (38) batted confidently in adding 71 for the second wicket after Gavin Rennie was caught behind off King for one.

But despite a fluent 50 off 83 balls, including eight boundaries, from Dirk Viljoen, the tourists looked in control.

lThe scores: West Indies 191 and 457 for five decl. bt ZCU President's XI 128 for 9 decl. and 306 (H.Masakadza 38, G.Whittall 45, D.Viljoen 50, P.Strang 81 not out, D.Mutendera 34, King three for 42, Stuart three for 49, Ramnarine three for 98).

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