Zimbabwe on course for victory

Zimbabwe, strong favourites to win their World Cup match against Holland in Bulawayo, reached what should be a match-winning total of 301 for eight in their 50 overs.

Andy Flower, with 71, was as so often the backbone of the innings, while there were belligerent knocks of 58 from Andy Blignaut and 44 from Heath Streak.

Craig Wishart sought to establish Zimbabwe’s dominance from the start, and made 21 off 22 balls before he fell to a remarkable catch, taken off a thick edge by wicket-keeper Jeroen Smits, who was standing up to the seam bowling of Roland Lefebvre.

Holland were to pay a heavy price for dropping Flower, a hard chance off Tim de Leede to first slip when he had four. He went on to score 71 before slicing a catch into the gully off Edgar Schiferli.

His partners tended to settle in, only to be dismissed when on the verge of playing significant innings, Mark Vermeulen contributing 27 and Guy Whittall 30 before falling to a brilliant catch by Bas Zuiderent in the deep.

Holland’s bowlers were consistent in line and length, but had nothing to provide a threat to Zimbabweans accustomed to fending off the top Test bowling attacks. Their ground fielding was disappointing.

Whittall’s dismissal brought Blignaut to the wicket and he was soon into his stride, threatening a run riot toward the end of the innings. Pulling and driving fiercely, he reached his fifty off 32 balls, but clever planning saw him caught behind square leg off Schiferli for 58.

Streak maintained the rate with some powerful strokes, while Dion Ebrahim played a brisk innings of 32. Streak brought up the 300 for Zimbabwe before being caught near the long-on boundary off the final ball of the innings. His 44 came off 22 balls.