Lara finished the game in style with two successive sixes

"We were very clinical in our approach and bowled really well," he said after his team skittled Zimbabwe for only 85.

"We would have loved to win the toss and bat but three batters got a chance and we won in style which is important.

"It was a very good batting track but the guys stuck to the line and length they're supposed to and got results."

Chris Gayle took three wickets and smashed a rapid 41, despite suffering from flu, to be named man of the match.

I feel a bit weak and it will take a while to get into the groove Chris Gayle

He polished off the Zimbabweans with 3-3 in 19 deliveries and then paved the way for a nine-wicket triumph with almost 36 overs to spare.

"It wasn't the easiest wicket to bowl on but we got a good start from Jerome Taylor and Ian Bradshaw and capitalised on that," Gayle said.

"I wasn't feeling well but I tried to be myself and it didn't really pay off with the bat.

"I feel a bit weak and it will take a while to get into the groove but once I can I will try to build on it in the next set of games."

It was a better wicket than 85 all out but they didn't apply themselves Prosper Utseya

For Zimbabwe's young captain Prosper Utseya, it was another chastening defeat which left them facing early elimination from the tournament.

Utseya, who hit a brave 27, was one of only three players on his side to make it into double figures.

"They didn't do their job when batting and didn't have a good shot selection," he said of his team-mates.

"They didn't give themselves a chance to build an innings and played too many shots early on. It was a better wicket than 85 all out but they didn't apply themselves.