Zimbabwe salvages tie as Windies collapse

West Indies failed to score the four runs they needed to win from the last over and had to settle for a tie in a thriller against Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe salvaged a tie in a dramatic end to the tri-series encounter in Bulawayo on Saturday after Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite looked to be guiding West Indies to a comfortable victory.

Hope fell just three short of a debut ODI half-century in a win over Sri Lanka on Wednesday and made a brilliant maiden international ton two days later, but the Windies fell apart after he and Brathwaite (78) were out.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Hope (101 from 109 balls) and Brathwaite, who made his highest ODI total, put on 162 for the third wicket before the Windies lost six for 37, Jason Holder failing to score off the final ball from Donald Tiripano to ensure it was honours even.

Zimbabwe, beaten by Sri Lanka in their first match, also collapsed after Craig Ervine (92) and Sikandar Raza (77) put on 144 for the third wicket, posting 257 all out from their 50 overs and the Windies were eight down when they could only manage the same score.

Carlos Brathwaite (4-48) did much of the damage in Zimbabwe's innings, removing opener Brian Chari and striking three times later in the innings as Zimbabwe failed to build on solid foundations set by Ervine and Raza.

The Windies appeared to be coasting with Hope and composed opener Kraigg Brathwaite at the crease, with the wicketkeeper the chief aggressor, clubbing four sixes and as many fours in an entertaining knock.

Tiripano caught Hope superbly in the deep on 58, but stepped over the rope. However, he had the last laugh after the two well set batsmen failed to see the Windies home.

West Indies needed only four to win off the final over, but Tiripano dismissed Carlos Brathwaite and Ashley Nurse was cruelly run out at the non-striker's end before Jonathan Carter was also short of his ground trying to scamper through for a bye off the last ball after Holder failed to make contact.