HARARE, Zimbabwe (CMC):

Zimbabwe beat West Indies by 30 runs in their first One-Day International (ODI) cricket match yesterday in spite of an unbeaten century from Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

After being sent in to bat, Zimbabwe scored 274 for eight off 50 overs and West Indies could only muster 244 for eight in reply at the Harare Sports Club.

The dependable Chanderpaul stroked 127 not out, but apart from Runako Morton, who got a half century, there was little support in the touring team's run chase.

The 33-year-old Guyanese left-hander compiled his innings from 138 balls and struck five fours and two sixes. He shared in a 118-run fourth-wicket partnership with Morton, who got 54.

Medium pacer Elton Chigum-bura, who scored a brisk 38 in Zimbabwe's innings, completed a fine all-round effort by grabbing three wickets for 25 runs off eight overs to lead the Zimbabwe bowling.

Earlier, Man of the Match Justice Chibhabha (73) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (55) thumped aggressive half centuries in Zimbabwe's useful total.

Hamilton Masakadza (36) and Chibhabha gathered an innings best 90 runs for the fourth wicket before West Indies captain Chris Gayle struck in successive overs with his off-spin to reduce the Zimbabweans from 168 for three to 175 for five in the 38th over.

Matsikenyeri and Chigum-bura added another vital 89 in a seventh-wicket stand.

Pacer Jerome Taylor was fairly expensive with figures of two for 68 off 10 overs. Gayle claimed two for 35 off six overs, and medium pacer Dwayne Bravo was the best with two for 39 off eight overs.

SCOREBOARD

ZIMBABWE innings B Taylor run out (Chanderpaul) 27

J Chibhabha lbw Gayle 73

+T Taibu c wkp Ramdin b Bravo 10

H Masakadza lbw Gayle 36

E Chigumbura c Rampaul b Bravo 38

S Matsikenyeri b Taylor 55

P Utseya not out 6

K Dabengwa b Taylor 0

G Brent not out 0

Extras (lb6, w9) 15

TOTAL (8 wickets - 50 overs) 274

Did not bat: R Price

Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Sibanda 6.6 overs), 2-57 (Taylor, 12.1), 3-78 (Taibu, 17.4), 4-168 (Chibhabha, 35.2), 5-175 (Masakadza, 37.2), 6-264 (Chigumbura, 47.6), 7-269 (Matsikenyeri, 48.5), 8-270 (Dabengwa, 48.6)

BOWLING: Powell 9-0-49-1 (2w); Rampaul 7-1-28-0 (2w); Taylor 10-0-68-2 (5w); Bravo 8-1-39-2; Lewis 10-0-49-0; Gayle 6-0-35-2.

WEST INDIES Innings

C Gayle c&b Chigumbura 2

DS Smith c wkp Taibu b Chigumbura 5

S Chanderpaul not out 127

M Samuels c wkp Taibu b Masakadza 25

R Morton b Chibhabha 54

R Lewis c Chigumbura b Brent 14

D Bravo b Chibhabha 0

+D Ramdin run out (Masakadza/Taibu) 8

R Rampaul c Utseya b Chigumbura 0

J Taylor not out 1

Extras (b2, lb2, w4) 8

TOTAL (8 wickets - 50 overs) 244

Did not bat: Powell

Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Gayle, 2.3 overs), 2-22 (Smith, 6.3), 3-77 (Samuels, 19.4), 4-195 (Morton, 45.2), 5-210 (Lewis, 46.4), 6-212 (Bravo, 47.1), 7-241 (Ramdin, 49.2), 8-241 (Rampaul, 49.3)

Bowling: Chigumbura 8-1-25-3 (2w); Brent 9-1-42-1; Chibhabha 9-0-64-2 (2w); Masakadza 3-0-14-1; Utseya 10-0-45-0; Price 10-0-41-0; Dabengwa 1-0-9-0.

Result: Zimbabwe win by 31 runs

Man of the Match: Justice Chibhabha (Zimbabwe)

Toss: West Indies

Series: Zimbabwe lead five-match series 1-0

Umpires: Kevan Barbour (Zimbabwe) and Brian Jerling (South Africa)

Match Referee: Chris Broad (England).