Scotland holds nerve for historic win
Kyle Coetzer led from the front with a fourth One-Day International century as Scotland buried Zimbabwe under an avalanche of runs in the first of two ODIs at the Grange Cricket Club ground in Edinburgh on Thursday.
The skipper’s stroke-filled 109 off 101 deliveries with 13 fours and two sixes headlined a powerful batting display as the host rattled up 317 for 6 in its complement of 50 overs. Chasing a revised target of 299 in 43 overs after rain halted play midway through its chase, Zimbabwe mounted a strong charge through Malcolm Waller but was eventually bowled out for 272 to go down by 26 runs on the DLS Method. It marked the first ever ODI win for Scotland against a Test-playing nation
Zimbabwe had stumbled to 107 for 4 in 21.3 overs when the rain arrived, the reset target proving a bridge too far for Graeme Cremer’s side. Upon resumption, Sean Williams kept it in the hunt with a sparkling 70 off just 59 deliveries, but Con de Lange, the left-arm spinner, kept plugging away to reduce Zimbabwe to 193 for 8 in the 33rd over.
Waller then took command, smashing 92 off just 62 deliveries with 10 fours and five sixes, dominating a ninth-wicket stand of 76 with Tendai Chatara, who only made seven. However, de Lange got rid of Waller, caught in the deep with 30 needed, and it was all over for Zimbabwe. Waller was de Lange’s fifth victim of the day, giving him figures of 5 for 60 and a maiden five-wicket haul in only his eighth ODI.
Earlier in the day after he won the toss, Coetzer - who had smashed 118 in a practice game win over Sri Lanka in Beckenham 25 days back - kept that good form going as he and Michael Cross put on 56 for the first wicket to set the ideal base for the batsmen to follow. Zimbabwe kept striking to keep itself in the hunt at the start of the 24th over as Scotland reached 133 for 3, but with Coetzer still around, Zimbabwe’s woes were far from over.
After putting on 42 for the fourth wicket with Preston Mommsen, his predecessor, Coetzer brought up his century in the company of Craig Wallace before being dismissed in the 40th over, sweeping Williams to deep mid-wicket. That triggered a breathtaking passage of play as Wallace and Michael Leask tore into the Zimbabwe bowling during an 83-run stand that came off just 52 deliveries. Wallace struck five fours and a six in his 54-ball 58 while Leask was devastating, hammering fives fours and two sixes while racing to 59 not out off just 38 deliveries. Richard Ngarava took a fearful pounding, going for 96 from his 10 overs.
Zimbabwe made a steady rather than spectacular start through Solomon Mire and Hamilton Masakadza, whose opening stand of 55 came in 66 deliveries. However, Scotland struck twice in seven deliveries with the scalps of Masakadza (38) and Craig Ervine, and then kept picking up wickets to ensure that Zimbabwe never got any momentum going.
The rain arrived immediately after Sikandar Raza was run out for four to leave Zimbabwe on 107 for 4 after 21.3 overs. When play eventually resumed, Zimbabwe mounted a stirring chase through Waller and Williams, but fell tantalisingly short.
The teams will square off in the second and final ODI at the same venue on Saturday.
