Windies Take First Innings Lead
Sat, Nov 15, '03
SECOND TEST, DAY THREE: West Indies 481 and 13/1; leads Zimbabwe
377 by 117 runs.
Despite losing the lead-footed and struggling Chris Gayle to a first ball duck in the second innings, the West Indies still are in a handsome position in the second and final test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo.
The Caribbean team sits comfortably on a 117-run lead after slowly working the fighting Zimbabweans out for 377 which was 104 short of the West Indies? first innings total of 481 all out.
Mark Vermeulen edged his way to a patient 118 to get the African team?s total as close to the 400 hundred mark as was possible. His overnight partner, Craig Wishart with whom he added 154, fell agonisingly close to triple figures going down LBW to Corey Collymore playing on the back foot.
Collymore, who bowled with aggression and got some each-way movement throughout, was the leading bowler for the Windies taking 4 for 70 but the bowlers struggled to dislodge the Zimbabwean lower order with Andy Blignaut (31) and Ray Price (35) hanging on disconcertingly to decrease the West Indies first innings lead which at one time looked as though it would have been around the 200 mark.
Omari Banks, who bowled a marathon 41.2 overs snarled two scalps while there was also two for returning pacer Merv Dillon (2 for 57) and Fidel Edwards (2 for 48) who left the field after bowling only 15 overs. It is still unclear what the situation is with the darting Bajan quickie.
Ganga (8*) and Hind (5*) negotiated three overs at the end of the day to take the Windies to 13 for one after Gayle fell to Streak?s first ball of the second innings.
With nine wicket in hand and two full days to go the West Indies are still within sight of a series deciding victory.