THE Zimbabwe national cricket team fought back with both bat and ball after West Indies posted a mammoth total on day three of their first Test played under a blue sky at Queens Sports Club.
With the first two days having been interrupted by rains, it was a beautiful day for cricket yesterday with no threats of any showers.
The visitors resumed yesterday on 221 without loss before going on to declare on 447 for 6 in their first innings.
At stumps Zimbabwe were on 114 for 3, with a first innings deficit of 333 runs.
Innocent Kaia will resume on 59 this morning, while his fellow opener Tanunurwa Makoni was dismissed for 33.
Chamu Chibhabha didn’t last long, adding just nine runs to the total before he was sent packing, while skipper Craig Ervine managed just 13.
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With ball in hand, Brendon Mavuta starred for Zimbabwe after claiming a five wicket haul finishing with figures of 5 for 140 from 41 overs.
Wellington Masakadza (1 for 85) gave Zimbabwe the breakthrough in the first session which went fast as the visitors upped their tempo.
Skipper Kraigg Braithwaite fell for 182 after he was trapped leg before by Masakadza, while Tangerine Chanderpaul finished unbeaten on 201.
Apart from the openers there was relatively little else from the other batsmen with only Kyle Mayers (20) and Jason Holder (11) reaching double digits.
Mayers was Mavuta’s first victim after he castled him, before Ramon Reifer was caught by Kaia having scored two runs.
Jermaine Blackwood managed just three runs before skying another good delivery by Mavuta for the ball to land safely in Takudzwa Tsiga’s gloves.
Roston Chase’s accumulation was ended prematurely after he had scored seven with Ervine completing the catch.
Richard Ngarava (0 for 69), Victor Nyauchi (0 for 73) and Brad Evans (0 for 74) all toiled without a wicket, having operated on a lifeless pitch in the first two days.