On this day in 2001: Zimbabwe skittle West Indies for 91 in Sydney ODI
It was that era in international cricket when the Aussies had just acclaimed their robust life state as invincibles. On the flip side, the West Indies were encountering their biggest inferiority by demonstrating Brian Lara as a rudimentary warrior. The Zimbabweans at this time in the equation were no short of high spirits, thanks to some prodigious corps (skipper Heath Streak, The flower brothers and Alister Campbell) making them utterly adroit.
While the Australians were expected to seal the deal in their backyard, the Carlton ODI Tri-Series saw some prolific battles between the two steadfast sides (WI VS ZIM). In this eventful encounter at the SCG. Skipper Jimmy Adams of West Indies, after winning the toss, asked Zimbabwe to bat first.
West Indies impress with the ball
With some considerable bounce being offered by the canny SCG pitch along with some disciple lines being exerted by the West Indian seamers, Zimbabwe’s batting saw a dramatic collapse. While the score was a tad over 100 when Zimbabwe’s last wicket got prevailed, skipper Streak looked the only man being comfortable.
By restricting his comfy resistance (45 from 70 deliveries), the Windies batting side just had to chase a drained total of 139 thanks to some crackerjack bowling by Cameron Cuffy (4 for24) and Laurie Williams (3 for 24).
However, with skipper Streak being the best jurist on that run-deprived SCG wicket, their back to back breakthroughs first by scalping Ridley Jacobs and then Sherwin Campbell, at a score of 22-2, things were balanced.
Zimbabwe storm back
Bryan Strand & Mluleki Nkala the other two seamers then promptly joined the party by removing Hinds, Lara and Samuels to leave the Caribbeans reeling at 24-5. Another two quick dismissals by Streak then demonstrated catastrophic despair. With the scoreline of 31-8 depicting West Indies towards its lowest ODI total, there came a redemption when Nixon Mclean played a stiff 32 balls 40 thereby remaining unbeaten. With Nkala fetching the last wicket, West Indies faced an embarrassing defeat by getting tumbled for an absurd score of 91.
ON THIS DAY (2001): Zimbabwe shock a West Indies side in a tri-series match in Sydney, Australia, bowling them out for just 91 (including five ducks) to win an ODI by 46 runs!#FlashCricFacts #cricket #AUSvIND #BBL08 #SAvPAK #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/s4UU79sUYU
— ?FlashScore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) January 23, 2019
Regardless of being an arid contest, Zimbabwe won convincingly by the margin of 47 runs. Heath Streak, for of his all-round performance (40 with the bat and 4-8), undoubtedly won the player of the match, making Zimbabwe earn a momentous win in the Tri-series.
