Andy Blignaut gave Zimbabwe the early initiative

Mark Vermeulen made an unbeaten 66 as Zimbabwe squared the one-day series against West Indies with a six-wicket victory in Bulawayo.

He shared a match-winning stand of 74 with Heath Streak (38 not out) after they had dismissed West Indies for 125.

Zimbabwe were 54-4 atone stage but Vermeulen responded positively and hit 13 fours as they cruised home on 128-8 with 20.2 overs to spare.

The teams now move on to Harare for the three remaining matches.

Chris Gayle and West Indies skipper Brian Lara both made centuries in Saturday's 51-run victory and were looking to cash in again after Lara won the toss and chose to bat.

His decision backfired as Andy Blignaut Chris Gayle caught behind for eight in his third over and then trapped Lara lbw for two.

Wavell Hinds followed when he edged a wide delivery from Sean Ervine to wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu after struggling for 44 balls to make 17.

Shiv Chanderpaul was next to go, dismissed by Gary Brent for 20, and the tourists could ill afford the run out of Ramnaresh Sarwan in the same over.

The lower order were unable to cope with spinners Ray Price (2-16) and Trevor Gripper (2-28) as West Indies slumped from 71-5 to 110-9.

Marlon Samuels hit two sixes in a brief show of defiance before Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak ended the innings in the 43rd over by producing a perfect yorker to bowl last man Corey Collymore.

Maybe we were a bit too relaxed Brian Lara More post-match reaction

Any thoughts that it would be plain sailing for Zimbawe soon disappeared as Gripper was run out for six - beaten by Samuels' throw from the boundary as he attempted an all-run four.

Vasbert Drakes accounted for Vusi Sibanda, who faced 14 balls without opening his account, and the introduction of Collymore as first change resulted in the wickets of Craig Wishart and Stuart Matsikenyeri.

Zimbabwe were in no mood to let their chance go begging, however, and it took Vermeulen and Streak just 11 overs to knock of the remaining runs needed.

Vermeulen reached 50 off 65 balls and he ended the match by driving a ball from Sarwan to the cover boundary.

Zimbabwe: V Sibanda, T R Gripper, M A Vermeulen, C B Wishart, S Matsikenyeri, S M Ervine, T Taibu (Wkt), H H Streak (Capt), A M Blignaut, G B Brent, R W Price.

West Indies: C H Gayle, W W Hinds, B C Lara (Capt), R R Sarwan, S Chanderpaul, M N Samuels, R L Powell, C S Baugh (Wkt), V C Drakes, C D Collymore, R Rampaul.