West Indies crush Zimbabwe

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May 08, 2006 11:09 IST

Former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul smashed 93 and Fidel Edwards grabbed three wickets to lead West Indies to a crushing victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international on Sunday.

Chanderpaul capped off a West Indies onslaught that culminated in a record total of 333 for six off 50 overs.

Edwards removed both openers with his first four balls as Zimbabwe were restricted to 251 for seven to give West Indies victory by 82 runs and a 3-0 series lead.

West Indies' total was the highest in a one-day international in the Caribbean, beating the 315 for four off 50 overs they made against Pakistan in Port of Spain, Trinidad in 1988.

Chanderpaul provided the final touches with a stroke-filled innings off 82 balls after opener Runako Morton's 79 off 90 balls and captain Brian Lara's 56 off 40 balls had laid the platform.

Lara, batting at number three for the first time in the series after his surprise decision to come at number six in the first two matches, blasted nine fours and delighted a packed ground in the final international match at the Bourda ground.

A new ground is being built near Georgetown ahead of the 2007 World Cup.

After debutant Sewnarine Chattergoon was run out for nine, Lara and Morton added 109 for the second wicket.

The stand was ended when Lara was caught by wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor when the attempted to run a ball from medium pacer Tawanda Mupariwa to third man.

Morton was given a reprieve on 64 after he was initially given run out.

The decision was rescinded when television replays confirmed Taylor had dislodged the bails.

Morton eventually fell to a catch in the deep after hitting nine fours and a six.

Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan teamed up to put on 83 for the fourth wicket before Sarwan holed out in the deep for a run-a-ball 40.

Chanderpaul was yorked by paceman Edward Rainsford to end a brilliant knock that contained nine fours and three sixes.

POOR START

Zimbabwe suffered an immediate setback with Edwards bowling Piet Rinke with the first ball of the innings and having captain Terry Duffin caught by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin with the fourth ball.

Zimbabwe never recovered despite 60 from Elton Chigumbura, 52 by Vusi Sibanda and 40 from the consistent Justice Chibhabha.

Edwards, who finished with three for 42 off 10 overs, also dismissed Chigumbura with the help of a diving catch by Morton at deep backward square leg.

Medium pacer Corey Collymore, who played his first international match since knee surgery in December, was the West Indies' most economical bowler and conceded 21 runs from eight overs.

The fifth match of the series, a day-night encounter, will be played in St Lucia on Wednesday.

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