Chigumbura took two early wickets as West Indies faltered

Zimbabwe beat major opposition for the first time since revoking Test status, overcoming West Indies by 31 runs in the opening one-day match in Harare.

Elton Chigumbura (3-25) took two early wickets, reducing the tourists to 22-2 in the seventh over of their reply.

Even though Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit an unbeaten 127 it was not enough to help put the Windies back on track.

Asked to bat first, the hosts racked up 274-8, with Chamu Chibhabha hitting a career-best 73 from 85 balls.

Zimbabwe's cricket board decided to give up Test status in January 2006 after a group of senior players quit in protest at the way the game was run, leaving the side too inexperienced to play leading sides.

Several of those players, including former captain Tatenda Taibu and veteran spinner Ray Price, who spent the last two years in county cricket with Worcestershire, have since returned.

Zimbabwe have beaten Bangladesh four times on two tours in 2006 and '07 but have not beaten any other Test-playing side since stepping back from top level cricket.

606: DEBATE Hopefully its a case of Zim getting better, rather than a fluke CC

The second game in the five-match series is also in Harare on Sunday.

Zimbabwe, who were put in to bat, slumped to 78-3 in the 18th over before Chibhabha and Hamilton Masakadza righted the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 90.

They were parted in the 36th over when off-spinner and captain Chris Gayle trapped Chibhabha in front.

Gayle dismissed Masakadza for 36 in identical fashion in his next over, but Zimbabwe were kept on course for their challenging total by a partnership of 89 between Chigumbura and Stuart Matsikenyeri.

Matsikenyeri kept a firm hand on the latter overs of the innings before being bowled for 55 by fast bowler Jerome Taylor in the 49th over.

Medium pacer Chigumbura quickly removed Gayle for two and Devon Smith for five to reduce West Indies to 22-2 in the seventh over.

Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels (25) fought back with a stand of 55, and Runako Morton scored 54 to help Chanderpaul add another 118 runs for the fourth wicket.