Windies Bowlers Sleepwalk

Perhaps it was fitting that the majority of West Indians could not see the lackluster bowling effort on the first day of the first Test in Zimbabwe.

Going into the opening Test with one of the most inexperienced attacks in living memory, the West Indies sleepwalked for most of the day as Tetenda Taibu (75 not out) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (57) pushed the home side to 284 for six at the close.

Even more worrisome, teenage pacer Jerome Taylor limped off with a side strain after bowling just 9.4 overs, forcing Brian Lara to piece together his bowling attack on a track that offered little help. In all, nine bowlers were used with slinging right-armer Fidel Edwards being the pick of the bowlers with 3-73 from 17 overs.

The two most senior bowlers -- Vasbert Drakes and Corey Collymore -- combined for 1-109 from 33 overs on a day that belonged entirely to the underdog Zimbabweans.

And, that was after a promising start by the West Indians. With the score on 26, Edwards struck first, brushing the edge of Vusimuzi Sibanda. It was soon 35 for two when Mark Vermeulen went, caught by Hinds off Edwards. Stuart Carlisle was also an early victim, caught by Lara off Collymore but the West Indies would struggle mightily afterwards.

Trevor Gripper batted positively in the period before and after lunch, hitting seven fours and a six in 41 before he played a loose drive to Taylor and gifted Lara with catch. Craig Wishart also helped himself to 47 (six fours) before he also flashed at a wide delivery to give Jacobs a simple catch off Wavell Hinds.

That was to be the last of West Indian joy as Taibu and Matsikenyeri dug in. The 20-year-old Taibu was especially enterprising, striking 8 fours in his unbeaten 75 as Lara's men struggled to contain the batsmen. Matsikenyeri, on debut, stroked eight fours and a six in a knock of 57 before he was dismissed by Edwards, edging a wide ball to the 'keeper.

DAY ONE SCORE:
Zimbabwe 284 for six off 90 overs (Taibu 75 not out, Matsikenyeri 57, Wishart 47, Gripper 41; Fidel Edwards 3-73, Wavell Hinds 1-30, Jerome Taylor 1-32, Corey Collymore 1-63)