Lara confident of beating Zim

BULAWAYO: Zimbabwe will be looking to go one better than last week and take the series when they meet West Indies at the Queen’s Sports Club for the second of two Tests, captain Heath Streak said yesterday.

“We were the better side in the First Test, and we came so close to winning,” said Streak, whose team came within one wicket of beating West Indies in Harare last week. “It was very disappointing to do so well and not finish it off,” he said. “But we can take a lot of positives from our First Test performance.” West Indies captain Brian Lara agreed his side was “outplayed by Zimbabwe in every department.” “We were a bit down after the match, but we cheered up having realised we now have this Second Test to win, and with it the series,” he said. The weather is expected to be hot and sunny for the start of the five-day Test today. Zimbabwe won’t be making any changes to their lineup. Omari Banks, who had to sit out the First Test with a stomach bug, will be available for selection, as will Jerome Taylor, who developed a lower back strain in Harare, Lara said. If Banks plays, it could be Chris Gayle who gives way. Both captains expressed frustration at playing only two Tests in the series. This is routine in Zimbabwe, but they agreed it was difficult to come to a positive result. West Indies won’t announce their team until the morning of the match.

Zimbabwe: Vusi Sibanda, Trevor Gripper, Mark Vermeulen, Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart, Stuart Matsikenyere, Tatenda Taibu, Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Blessing Mahwire.  12th man Jordaan Nicolle.
Umpires: Simon Taufel (Australia), Rudi Koertzen (New  Zealand).
Match referee: Gun-dappa Vishvanath.