Zimbabwe's Williams sees off Bermuda by AFP

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Scorecard:	Bermuda v Zimbabwe
Event:	ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 9th March 2007

 

Sean Williams's unbeaten 72 saw Zimbabwe to a six-wicket win against Bermuda in their final World Cup warm-up match here Thursday.

 

Zimbabwe, far the more experienced of these two 'minnows', slumped to five for two inside two overs as they chased a modest target of 137.

 

But left-hander Williams, who'd impressed while making 44 in a 106-run defeat against world champions Australia on Tuesday, ensured the Africans won with 21 overs to spare as they finished on 137 for four.

 

Stuart Matsinkyeri was 21 not out.

 

Williams faced 85 balls, with two sixes and three fours.

 

Together with Chamu Chibhabha (30) he put on 73 for the third wicket to put Zimbabwe in sight of victory.

 

"We lost two quick wickets so I thought to myself, chasing 137, I've got a lot of time to bat," the 20-year-old Williams told reporters. "So I might as well try to bat through the whole innings."

 

Williams, still coming to terms with his knock against Australia, added: "That was awesome. Against the best bowling attack in the world I was really trying to value my wicket but I ended up giving it away and I should have got another fifty."

 

Zimbabwe's match-winner was on the verge of giving up at international level before a spell playing for Newcastle-based club side Claravale in north-east England revived his enthusiasm.

 

"I am glad I stuck with it. I went to England to get a lot of experience and then I came back and continued from where I left off."

 

Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya added: "It seems we are moving in the right direction even though we lost to Australia."

 

Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine, whose side were skittled out for 45 against England on Monday, was once more left bemoaning his team's batting.

 

"Once again, we just didn't score enough runs at this level.

 

"If we had batted through to 190 it would have been a decent total. But we were 50 runs short.

 

"We have to put a decent total on the board to gain some respect."

 

Williams's innings was an assured display. When giant spinner Dwayne Leverock, who made headlines all round the world after taking two for 32 against England on Monday, came on Williams lofted him for six over mid-wicket. Earlier, Janeiro Tucker's 52 was the mainstay of Bermuda's 136 after they'd collapsed to 31 for four inside 15 overs following skipper Irving Romaine's decision to bat.

 

Pace bowler Anthony Ireland did the damage with an opening spell of three wickets for 10 runs in six overs, including catching Glamorgan's David Hemp for nought off his own bowling. He finished with three for 22 in eight overs.

 

Bermuda gave themselves hope when Vusi Sibanda was caught and bowled by Kevin Hurdle for two before Duffin, Zimbabwe's other opener, was held in the slips by Clay Smith off Saleem Mukuddem for one.

 

But, ultimately, Bermuda's bowlers did not have enough runs to play with.

 

Zimbabwe's next match is in Jamaica where they play Ireland on March 15 in a Group D also featuring hosts West Indies and Pakistan.

 

Bermuda, in Group B, play Sri Lanka in Trinidad on March 15 before facing India and Bangladesh.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)