NEWS
SCHEDULES
COLUMNS
PREVIOUS TOURS
OTHER SPORTS
STATISTICS
INTERVIEWS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Zimbabwe have Windies in trouble

Zimbabwe made a promising start in their inaugural Test against the West Indies yesterday as they reduced the home side to 79 for three by the end of the opening day which was hit by rain.

After winning the toss and asking their hosts to bat, the African nation had the best start they could have possibly hoped for when fast bowler Heath Streak trapped opener Adrian Griffith leg before for a duck in the first over.

The West Indies suffered another blow when debutant Chris Gayle, the only batsman to show some aggression, was run out for 33, which left them struggling on 57 for two at lunch.

Rain wiped out much of the remainder of the day's play but there was time enough for paceman Henry Olonga to have Shivnarine Chanderpaul caught by wicketkeeper Andy Flower for 12.

At the end of play, opener Sherwin Campbell, evidently taking his new responsibilities as vice-captain seriously, was still at the crease after compiling a laborious 20 runs from 121 deliveries and hitting just one boundary.

At the other end, nightwatchman Curtly Ambrose, who is probably more interested in bowling than batting on this grassy pitch, was unbeaten on five.

The only bright spot for the West Indies was the innings of 20-year-old left-hander Gayle, who spoiled an encouraging Test debut when he was run out after misjudging a second run just before lunch.

Gayle deservedly gained his selection by being the top run scorer on the Busta Cup regional tournament with two hundreds and three half-centuries in an aggregate of 623 runs.