Windies dominate Zimbabwe on Day 1

West Indies dominated the first day of the second test against Zimbabwe on Friday, bowling out the hosts for 131 and reaching 126 for two in reply by the close.

Left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell (four for 23) and fast bowler Colin Stuart (three for 33) both returned career best figures as Zimbabwe succumbed on a decent surface after being put into bat.

Guy Whittall top-scored for Zimbabwe with 43 in a 128-ball knock.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (74 not out) and Daren Ganga (43) then ensured West Indies capitalised on their strong position, sharing a second wicket stand of 100.

Chanderpaul was in superb form, striking 13 boundaries in a 84-ball innings which mixed sweet timing with calculated aggression.

Earlier, McGarrell took four wickets in three overs and two with the first two deliveries after lunch as Zimbabwe slumped from 62 for three to 72 for seven.

He removed Craig Wishart, Grant Flower first ball, Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut.

The only Zimbabwean batsman to defy the West Indies was Whittall, who hit five boundaries in his 43 before he fell in the softest of fashions, pulling a long-hop from Marlon Black straight to Ganga at square leg.

Stuart took the wickets of Alistair Campbell and Hamilton Masakadza in the morning session while Reon King started the rot by claiming opener Dion Ebrahim.

Zimbabwe's success with the ball was limited to two wickets, Ganga edging Blignaut to wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu and Bryan Strang trapping Chris Gayle lbw for six.

Mail Cricket Editor