Harare — ZIMBABWE Select turned on a spirited show at the weekend when they beat South Africa Composite XI by 10 wickets at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom.

The match was in the first of the three four-day cricket matches in the Supersport Challenge against the SA Composite XI that was chosen by that country's National Selection Panel.

Zimbabwe Select only needed 57 runs in their second innings to claim the victory and this came courtesy of the opening partnership of Brandon Taylor (35) and Visimuzi Sibanda (19) and three extras.

South Africa Composite XI were the first to bat having won the toss and in the first innings they scored 288 before Zimbabwe Select replied with 493 as captain Prospers Utseya led from the front to score an unbeaten 115.

This was also his first first class century.

The hosts went in to bat again for their second innings and this time they were 261 all out and this means that the visitors needed 57 runs to win and Sibanda and Taylor just did that without the loss of a wicket.

The games are part of the drive by CSA to help the young Zimbabwean players gain more experience in the longer version of the game, in preparation for their resumption of Test participation.

Zimbabwe will also play as a seventh franchise in the MTN Domestic Championship and the Standard Bank Pro 20 Series with the matches in the two competitions being played on a normal home and away basis.

Meanwhile, West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has been appointed vice-captain for the tour of Zimbabwe.

Bravo will assist Chris Gayle, who is filling in as captain in Ramnaresh Sarwan's absence.

Bravo, whose captaincy experience is limited to a trial match played in Trinidad recently, admitted he didn't expect to be named, but was upbeat about the challenge.

"It is really a great feeling to be given the vice-captaincy," Bravo was quoted as saying in the Trinidad and Tobago media.

"I never thought that this would come my way at such a young age but it has and I intend to give it my best shot. Gayle can expect 100 percent support from me on and off the field of play."

Bravo welcomed Gayle's appointment, saying he had the ability to get the best out of the players.

Gayle led West Indies to a 2-1 win against England in the ODIs after a poor Test series earlier this year.

"Gayle has a great record as captain and the players respect him," Bravo said.

"He has the support of the guys and he gets them to perform. I personally have a lot of respect for him and he also respects me and knows what I stand for. I think we have good camaraderie going between us and this will only help the team."

Though the West Indians are returning after a lay-off since the ICC World Twenty20 in September, Bravo expected the side to get into rhythm quickly.

"Physically and mentally I am feeling great and during the KFC Cup and the camp I was hitting the ball well and also bowling good spells.

"This gives me a lot of confidence going into the series and hopefully I can get good returns that would help me when we visit South Africa after (the Zimbabwe tour)."