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Zimbabwe restricted the West Indies to 232 for 7 from their 50 overs and overhauled it for the loss of four wickets with as many as five overs to spare.Neil Johnson was the backbone of the Zimbabwean innings. The left-hander batted from first ball to last – a wide from Jimmy Adams that epitomised the mood of the West Indian captain – to finish unbeaten on 95 off 129 balls with nine fours, the obvious man of the match.Johnson gained good support from Murray Goodwin, with a run-a-ball 23, and in successive partnerships with the Flower brothers. Captain Andy made 42 off 59 balls in adding 70 for the fourth wicket and Grant was unbeaten on 26 when the end came with their stand worth 73.Considered the weaklings in the tournament, the Zimbabweans have served early warning that they are not to be underestimated. England will find them confident opponents in their opening match at The Oval tomorrow.Their triumph was the product of typically efficient cricket against opponents who paid the price for their overall inconsistency and complacency.They patently missed the class and influence of Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.

Ambrose was relaxing back in Antigua in readiness for the resumption of the Test series, and Walsh was given the day off after his exertions in the two Tests.The West Indies now have to regroup ahead of their next match against England at Lord’s on Sunday.Batting first, the West Indian total was at least 20 runs short of what appeared likely when the left-handers Chris Gayle (41) and Wavell Hinds (51) built the platform for a commanding total with a stand of 68 for the second wicket and more especially when Brian Lara hit 60 off 63 balls. He an the explosive Ricardo Powell put on 56 off 43 balls for the fourth wicket.Gayle was run out as he and Hinds were parked in the same crease, Hinds needlessly hoisted Grant Flower to long-off and Powell, after racing to 36 off 23 balls, also failed to clear long-off.His erratic shot selection has kept Powell out of the Test team. He is a clean, powerful hitter who has now hit 38 sixes in 28 one-day internationals but is short-changing the team with cameo 20s and 30s. After his dismissal, Lara threatened to decimate the Zimbabweans over the final six overs.

There was the occasional class stroke but he fretted over his lack of timing until two exquisite coverdriven fours and a straight six off the medium-pacer Garry Brent brought the crowd to their feet.In the next over, however, he chipped to mid-off and there was no one to take up the slack as the last two overs yielded only six.Ignoring the Zimbabwean example, the West Indies bowlers seemed intent on outdoing each other on the speed gun. Reon King, Franklyn Rose and Nixon McLean consistently hit 85mph but were punished for being too short and too wide.. Middlesex cruised into the quarter-finals of the NatWest Trophy here yesterday as they demolished Somerset by 169 runs, bowling them out for a paltry 58. Middlesex cruised into the quarter-finals of the NatWest Trophy here yesterday as they demolished Somerset by 169 runs, bowling them out for a paltry 58.
Somerset’s innings never gained momentum and at one stage they were 9 for 4.