The Hindu : Taibu sparkles but Pakistan on top

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 11, 2003

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Sport - Cricket

Taibu sparkles but Pakistan on top

Sharjah April 10. A heroic unbeaten 74 by wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu could not prevent Zimbabwe from being bundled out for 168 in the final of the four-nation one-day tournament here on Thursday, as Pakistan prepared to lift its 12th title in Sharjah.

Taibu's splendid knock was the only bright note in an otherwise gloomy Zimbabwe innings that faltered at the very beginning and never recovered.

Pakistan bowlers had a field day against some inept batting by Zimbabwe after captain Heath Streak had won the toss and elected to bat.

Speedster Mohammad Sami sent back the first three Zimbabwe batsmen with the total at just 22 before spinners Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria and Mohamad Hafeez wiped out the rest of the batting line-up.

Taibu, fighting till the end after coming in at the fall of the third wicket, hit five fours and a six off Umar Gul to backward square leg in his knock that was studded with a number of delightful strokes.

The only support he got was from Sean Ervine, with whom he put on 46 runs in the innings highest partnership, after Grant Flower's dismissal in he 13th over had left Zimbabwe reeling at 36 for four. Ervine made 25 that included four hits to the fence.

Ervine was just beginning to flow when Rashid Latif snapped him off Shoaib Malik. Latif had earlier in the day completed 200 dismissals in one-day Internationals when he caught Gavin Rennie off Sami.

— PTI

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