West Indies thrash Zimbabwe by eight wickets

Antigua: An 85-run third wicket Partnership between Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo, guided the Windies to an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first of the two-match T20I series between the two teams.

Zimbabwe set them a target of 131 runs, and in reply Windies’ opening batsmen smashes six sixes and overhauled the target easily. West Indies captain Darren Sammy said "It was a clinical result because we did just what we wanted to do. We wish for to win our home town trophy after world title.” The opener had hit five consecutive fours off fellow opening bowler Kyle Jarvis, before Zimbabwean strike bowler Mpofu trapped Johnson Charles leg-before. Zimbabwe did not cash in on the opportunity of getting rid of Dwayne Bravo early on, as Malcolm Waller and Craig Ervine put on 60 for the fourth wicket. Zimbabwean captain, who once again called correctly at the toss and chose to take first strike, continued his poor run on the tour with the bat, falling without scoring to Samuels. A downcast Taylor said that "It`s really frustrating that our top three batters aren`t giving us good starts, but despite that, I thought Waller and Ervine played really well," Windies spinner Sunil Narine proved himself again by taking 2 wickets for just 17 runs, whereas Bravo took two wickets in the final over of the inning, both catches taken by Andre Russell on the midwicket boundary. The last match of the Twenty20 series takes place at the same Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday. Agencies