Charles, Fletcher propel Windies
Published: Guardian
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Opener Johnson Charles struck a boundary-studded unbeaten 92.
SHARJAH—Openers Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher punished Zimbabwe with exhilarating unbeaten half-centuries to life West Indies to an emphatic ten-wicket victory in their second warm-up game here yesterday.
Chasing 154 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, West Indies romped to their target in the 13th over with Charles belting 92 not out off 48 balls and Fletcher striking 56 not out off 33 deliveries.
Zimbabwe had earlier tallied 152 for seven off their 20 overs with the stylish Vusi Sibanda top-scoring with 64 and Sikandar Raza getting 23. The right-handed Sibanda, opening the batting, faced 56 balls and struck eight fours in adding 53 for the fifth wicket with Raza who gathered a four and a six off 13 balls in his knock.
Medium pacer Carlos Brathwaite was the best bowler with three for 23 while fellow seamers Dwayne Bravo (2-11) and Jerome Taylor (2-35) both finished with two wickets apiece. Charles and Fletcher then pummelled the Zimbabwe attack as West Indies cruised to their second win over the African side in three days.
The right-handed Charles slammed 10 fours and six sixes while Fletcher, also a right-hander, counted five fours and three sixes. Charles reached his half-century in the eighth over off 27 balls with five fours and four sixes while Fletcher raised his landmark off 31 deliveries in the 12th over.
West Indies are preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup starting March 8 in India, and will continue their preparation with another T20 warm-up against English County Warwickshire on Friday here.
Schedules:
United Arab Emirates Series
February 27: West Indies beat Zimbabwe by 18 runs
February 29: West Indies beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets
March 4: vs Warwickshire – Dubai
March 6: vs Warwickshire – Dubai
ICC World T20 Warm-ups
March 10: vs India – Eden Garden, Kolkata
March 13: vs Australia – Eden Garden, Kolkata
ICC World T20 Super 10
March 16: vs England – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
March 20: vs Sri Lanka – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
March 25: vs South Africa – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
March 27: vs Qualifier 1B – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
Scores:
ZIMBABWE 153 for seven off 20 overs (Vusi Sibanda 64, Sikandar Raza 23; Carlos Brathwaite 3-23,
Dwayne Bravo 2-11, Jerome Taylor 2-35)
WEST INDIES 154 without loss off 12.4 overs (Johnson Charles 92 not out, Andre Fletcher 56 not out)
www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2016-03-01/char...tcher-propel-windies
