Erratic WI allow Zimbabwe in

HARARE:  Their erratic bowling and their opponents gutsy batting saw West Indies let Zimbabwe claw their way back into the opening cricket Test on the opening day yesterday.

Fidel Edwards, playing only his second Test, was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with three wickets for 73 runs from 17 overs, but he too, like the rest of the attack, lacked consistency and Zimbabwe were able to recover to reach 284 for six when stumps were drawn at the Harare Sports Club. Tatenda Taibu, aged 20, led the Zimbabwean recovery and was within sight of a maiden Test hundred, after sharing successive half-century partnerships. He added 79 with Test newcomer Stuart Matsikenyeri, an old schoolmate, and 51, unbroken, with captain Heath Streak. Taibu’s 75 from 155 balls in nearly three hours contained eight fours was his highest score in 11 Tests and served as an example for the rest of the batting that failed to capitalise on the wayward West Indies bowling.

After choosing to bat, Zimbabwe crashed to 58 for three in the first hour. Edwards made the breakthrough when he had Test newcomer Vusiwusi Sibanda caught behind for 18 driving loosely outside the off-stump and also removed Mark Vermeulen when he was late on a pull shot and was caught at short leg for eight. Stuart Carlisle surrendered his wicket to Corey Collymore when he too, drove lavishly outside the off-stump and was pouched by West Indies captain Brian Lara at first slip for eight. The first signs of resistance came from opening batsman Trevor Gripper and Craig Wishart in a fourth wicket stand of 54 that had carried Zimbabwe through lunch at 85 for three. After the interval, the two batsmen were just getting warmed up when Jerome Taylor broke the stand. When 41, Gripper, like those before him, drove loosely at a ball outside the off-stump to provide Lara with his second catch.

Wishart too, was playing confidently and hit a few back-foot drives through the offside to the delight of the small crowd. He and Matsikenyeri had added 42 for the fifth wicket when he like the others was guilty of playing loosely outside the off-stump and Wavell Hinds claimed him for 47 with the second of three catches to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs. Matsikenyeri and Taibu dropped anchor and carried Zimbabwe through to 186 for five at tea. After the break, they batted with aplomb to give momentum to the innings. Outside of his four frontline fast bowlers and Hinds, Lara also tried Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Daren Ganga to make the kind of inroads he might have expected. Although Edwards managed to have Matsikenyeri caught behind for 57, Lara’s bowling permutations had limited success and his plans suffered a further setback when Taylor pulled up after bowling four balls in his 10th over.