Centuries from Johnson Charles and Darren Bravo have helped the West Indies inflict Zimbabwe's biggest loss in a one-day international.
In a completely dominant performance by the West Indians in Grenada, the hosts put aside their recent 5-0 trouncing by Australia in fine style as they cruised to a 156-run win over the rusty African team in the first game of a three-match series.
Having not played an international fixture since last year's World Twenty20, Zimbabwe still managed one small victory on Friday as they won the toss and sent the hosts into bat.
But that was as good as things got for the visitors as Charles powered his way to 130 as he and Darren Bravo (100 not out) helped the West Indies post an imposing 4-337 from their 50 overs, with Zimbabwe managing just 9-181 in reply.
Kieran Powell also played his part in the win, the opener scoring 79 off 88 balls as he and Charles added 168 for the first wicket before Powell fell to Chris Mpofu, who took some severe punishment as he conceded 2-83 from his 10 overs.
Charles was dropped on 37 by Vusi Sibanda in a tough chance off Prosper Utseya's (0-60) bowling and the 24-year-old took advantage of the let off by making 130 off 111 deliveries for his second century in a row, a score that came almost a fortnight after he posted his maiden international ton at the MCG.
Darren Bravo was also in a punishing mood as he made up for the absence of Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle and regular skipper Darren Sammy from the side with a blistering even 100 off 71 balls, an effort that included nine fours and four sixes.
Needing a big effort with the bat, Zimbabwe got off to the worst possible start as they were reduced to 4-34 as Sunil Narine (3-28) took two of his three wickets for the game.
Malcom Waller (51) offered some resistance as he returned fire with a half-century of his own as he and Chris Ervine (41) added 58 for the fifth wicket, but no other Zimbabwean batsman managed to make it past 20 on a brutally tough day at the office for Brendan Taylor's team.
First Posted 23 February, 2013 11:49AM AEST
