Streak (127 n.o.) suffers Windies

HARARE: Fidel Edwards completed a five-wicket haul for the second time in as many Tests, but Heath Streak hit his maiden Test hundred to put Zimbabwe in a commanding position over West Indies in their opening cricket Test yesterday. The lion-hearted Edwards captured two of the three Zimbabwe wickets that fell on the second day at the Harare Sports Club to end with five wickets for 133 runs from 34.3 overs, but Streak’s purposeful, undefeated 127 that allowed his side the luxury of a declaration at 507 for nine will long be remembered. Fortune seems to have favoured Streak, the Zimbabwe captain, since he was spared the challenge of a long opening spell of bowling after his lengthy innings, when bad light and rain prompted an early close with 25.2 overs to be bowled and West Indies 11 without loss. It was another infuriating day for West Indies. Their attack limited by Jerome Taylor’s absence with a back strain and emasculated by the hard, true pitch, they failed to make inroads into the Zimbabwean batting at the rate that they might have expected. Streak occupied the crease for close to six hours, faced 264 deliveries and struck 12 fours to be the rock upon which his side built their second score of over 500 in five Tests against West Indies.

He and Andy Blignaut, whose 91 was a run short of his Test best against the same opponents two years ago, shared an eighth wicket stand of 168, a record for Zimbabwe against any Test nation, to keep West Indies in the field well past tea. They were brought together when Edwards struck just before the morning drinks break to have Tatenda Taibu bowled for a Test-best 83 after Zimbabwe had resumed from their bedtime position of 284 for six. The diminutive wicket-keeper/batsman departed distraught after he had added 81 for the seventh wicket with Streak in batting for three hours to face 188 balls and strike nine fours. For the next three hours, the traffic was all one way —- Zimbabwe’s. Although Lara had claimed the second new ball after just two overs, none of his bowlers were potent enough to breakthrough and Streak and Blignaut literally had things their own way with the West Indies bowling. Streak and Blignaut seem to have penchant for the West Indies bowling. In the identical Test two years ago, they shared 154 for seventh wicket, a Zimbabwe record against all nations when Blignaut hit 92.

The two carried Zimbabwe to 372 for seven at the lunch interval and were still there when the tea break arrived at 463 for seven. Streak reached the cherished landmark off the penultimate ball before tea, when he played Edwards to third man for a single. After the break, Zimbabwe was slowed down by a brief stoppage for rain that lasted 20 minutes. On resumption, Blignaut started to play as free as he usually does and was within reach of his maiden Test hundred too. He was one short of his highest Test score when he slapped a short, wide delivery from Vasbert Drakes to backward point, where Chris Gayle dived full stretch to hold a spectacular one-handed catch. Blignaut faced 126 balls and struck eight fours. Edwards hastened the declaration when he trapped Raymond Price plumb in front with a full toss and softened batting bunny Blessing Mahwire with a few fast, short-pitched deliveries.