Tony Cozier and John Ward
15-Apr-2005
At Bulawayo, November 23, 2003. Zimbabwe won by six wickets. Toss: West Indies.
The West Indian batsmen were transformed from Jekylls to Hydes overnight. The pitch was
little different from the previous day's, perhaps yielding a little more turn and bounce. But they
appeared complacent, and paid the penalty. Gayle and Lara, century-makers a day earlier, scored
ten between them; only Samuels put up much of a fight against a well co-ordinated attack. As so
often, though, Zimbabwe's top order wilted under the pressure of knowing victory was within
their grasp. Four of the first five fell in single figures. Streak promoted himself to No. 6 to avoid
a crisis, but the accolades went to Vermeulen, who played with languid calm for an unbeaten 66
in 79 balls to level the series.
Man of the Match: M. A. Vermeulen.