Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo pricked Zimbabwe's bubble of optimism on Sunday as his five-wicket haul put the West Indies in charge of the first Test at Queens Sports Club. Zimbabwe came into the two-match series in a buoyant mood following the return of Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis to their ranks, and carried it through the opening day when they dismissed the West Indies for 219.
But Bishoo's 5 for 79 on the second day was like a bucket of cold water on Zimbabwe's spirits as they were bowled out for 159, with Hamilton Masakadza's 42 the top score. "There were way too many soft dismissals, and the boys are upset with themselves. That wasn't how we wanted to play," said Zimbabwe's batting coach Lance Klusener.
"We've got a second bite at the cherry, but it won't be easy to bat out there."
With Zimbabwe bowled out in just 61.3 overs, the West Indies began their second innings after tea and reached stumps on 88 for one, giving them an overall lead of 148.
Kraigg Brathwaite led the way with an unbeaten 38, while Kyle Hope registered a career-best 32 not out in his fourth Test. The partnership left Zimbabwe facing a long road back into the game, and with a lingering regret over their batting efforts. While the turning pitch has provided assistance to the spinners on the opening two days, Zimbabwe's batsmen were largely culpable for their own downfall. The hosts made a positive start in reply to West Indies' 219 all out, with openers Masakadza and Solomon Mire moving their overnight total from 19 to 44 without loss.
Scoreboard West Indies first innings 219 all out (S. Hope 90, K. Powell 56; G. Cremer 4-64, S. Williams 3-20)
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Zimbabwe first innings
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H. Masakadza c Dowrich b Bishoo 42
S. Mire c Brathwaite b Roach 27
C. Ervine lbw b Bishoo 39
B. Taylor c Blackwood b Bishoo 1
S. Williams c Dowrich b Roach 7
Sikandar Raza c Gabriel b Bishoo 6
M. Waller b Holder 11
R. Chakabva c Chase b Bishoo 12
G. Cremer b Holder 0
K. Jarvis not out 2
C. Mpofu c Dowrich b Gabriel 10
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Extras: (2lb) 2
Total: (all out, 61.3 overs) 159
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Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Mire), 2-91 (Masakadza), 3-93 (Taylor), 4-110 (Williams), 5-123 (Sikandar Raza), 6-133 (Ervine), 7-139 (Waller), 8-147 (Chakabva), 9-147 (Cremer), 10-159 (Mpofu).
Bowling: Gabriel 11.3-4-24-1, Holder 14-5-25-2, Bishoo 24-4-79-5, Chase 1-0-6-0, Roach 11-5-23-2.
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West Indies second innings
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K. Brathwaite not out 38
K. Powell b Cremer 17
K. Hope not out 32
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Extras (1b) 1
Total: (1 wkt, 33 overs) 88
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