Canadians sunk by resurgent Zimbabwe

Taibu’s maiden century earns his side a 175-run win.

NAGPUR: Tatenda Taibu missed a maiden World Cup century while Raymond Price grabbed three early wickets as Zimbabwe crushed Canada by 175 runs for their first win in Group A.

Zimabwe were indebted to former captain Taibu (98) and Craig Ervine (85) for posting 298 for nine before dismissing Canada for 123.

A no-contest game

The African nation, who lost to Australia in their opener, reduced the match to a no-contest when Price, sharing the new ball for a second successive game, took three wickets in his opening three overs.

The spinner bowled John Davison, the oldest player in the tournament at 40, 16-year-old Nitish Kumar, the youngest player to feature in a World Cup, and Ashish Bagai as Canada teetered at seven for three.

Graeme Cremer (three for 31), and off-spinners Prosper Utseya (two for 24) and Greg Lamb (two for 29) built on Price’s effort as Canada lost their second successive match.

Almost century for Taibu

Taibu looked set to complete his third one-day hundred before slog-sweeping Balaji Rao  after hitting nine fours.

“I wasn’t really thinking about getting to 100,” said Taibu. “I was really thinking about the position of the team.”

Spinner’s paradise for Price

Price, who was handed the new ball in a move that is proving to be popular on the slow-turning subcontinent pitches, said, “I wouldn’t mind taking that wicket around with me, it’s fun to bowl on. You never complain when you come to India as a spinner.”

Captain Elton Chigumbura added, “We’re  up and running and ready for the semi-finals.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2011.