Statistcical highlights
Mohandas Menon
1st match: Coca Cola Tri series in Zimbabwe
West Indies vs Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe was organising a tri-nation one-day tournament for the first
time. Zimbabwe was the only nation not to host such a tournament earlier.
Tatenda Taibu became Zimbabwe's 64th player to appear in LOIs. At 18
years 40 days he became the second youngest ZImbabwean to appear in LOIs.
Mluleki Nkala at 17 years 170 days still remains the youngest (v India at
Bulwayo, 27-9-1998). Taibu also becomes the sixth player to keep wickets for
Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe was playing an international match (including Tests) without
the services of Andy Flower for the first time. Ever since his LOI debut
against Sri Lanka at New Plymouth, New Zealand on 23-2-1992 during the 1992
World Cup, he has appeared in 172 LOI matches in a row. He however fell
short of the record 185 consecutive matches by India's Sachin Tendulkar
(from 25-4-1998 to 24-4-1998). Flower has also appeared in 52 Tests in a row
from 18-10-1992.
Grant Flower became the seventh Zimbabwean to lead his team in LOIs. He
was appearing in his 155th match of his career.
The Flower brothers (Andy and Grant) now became the third pair of
brothers after the Australian Chappells (Ian and Greg) and New Zealand's
Crowes (Martin and Jeff) to lead their respective sides.
The 66 by Darren Ganga was his maiden fifty of his career in 11 matches.
His previous highest was a paltry 22 also against Zimbabwe at Perth on
2-2-2001.
The 113 runs between Ganga and Chris Gayle was the first hundred-plus
partnership for the West Indies for the opening wicket since the 111 put on
by Ridley Jacobs and Sherwin Campbell against New Zealand at Auckland on
2-1-2000. Since then in 34 innings, West Indian openers have put on a
highest of only 86 runs - also against Zimbabwe at Chester-le-Street (in
England) on 16-7-2000.
Cameron Cuffy, playing in his 27th LOI match won his second man of the
match award of his career. It was his second such award in a row having won
in his previous match against South Africa at Kingstown (Arnos Vale) on
16-5-2001.