JANEIRO Tucker hit a half century in a losing cause against Zimbabwe in St. Vincent yesterday in the final warm-up match before Bermuda take on Sri Lanka next Thursday in the opening game of the World Cup.Tucker, who didn’t play against England on Monday because of injury, came in at number five and hit seven fours and one six off 88 balls before being caught by Terry Duffin off the bowling of Christopher Mpofu.

Sean Williams hit an unbeaten 72 and guided Zimbabwe past Bermuda by six wickets.

Williams, who top-scored with 44 in Tuesday’s 106-run defeat to Australia, hit three fours and two sixes as Zimbabwe eclipsed Bermuda’s 136 in the 29th over.

Chamu Chibhabha (30) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (21 not out) also headed Zimbabwe’s successful chase.

Antony Ireland took 3-22 against Bermuda’s top order, starting the rout which was resisted only by Tucker after captain Irving Romaine won the toss and elected to bat at Arnos Vale.

Ireland claimed the first wicket when Clay Smith was caught by Gary Brent for seven. Four balls later with no runs added, Ireland caught and bowled David Hemp to leave Bermuda struggling on 14-2.

Four runs later, Ireland induced Romaine (4) to be caught by Elton Chigumbura.

Vusi Sibanda caught Dean Minors (12) off Tawanda Mupariwa, and then held a one-handed, leaping catch at mid-on to remove OJ Pitcher (16) from Prosper Utseya, and end a 57-run stand with Tucker.

Lionel Cann was caught by Utseya on seven from Christopher Mpofu, who then had Tucker caught by Terence Duffin for Bermuda to slump to 110-6.

Seven runs later, Keith Dabengwa’s offspin had Saleem Mukuddem (3) caught by Matsikenyeri, and bowled Malachi Jones (0).

Kevin Hurdle was caught by Dabengwa for 10 on the last ball of the innings off Elton Chigumbura.

Dabengwa took 2-5 off three overs, and Mpofu 2-22 from 10.

Zimbabwe’s run chase started horrendously, losing two wickets in the first two overs to be 5-2.

Sibanda was caught and bowled by Hurdle for two and Duffin was caught by Smith off Mukuddem for one.

Williams and Chibhabha led the recovery with a 73-run, third-wicket stand broken by spinner Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock.

Chibhabha was caught at midoff by Deloyne Borden, and Levereck claimed a second wicket when Chigumbura (4) was caught by Hemp with Zimbabwe 93-4 and 44 runs from victory.

Williams and Matsikenyeri steered Zimbabwe home.