FIRST TEST MATCH: WEST INDIES VS ZIMBABWE

Day 1 at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, 12 March 2013
End of day: West Indies (18/2) trail Zimbabwe (211) by 193 runs, with 7 first innings wickets in hand.

A Zimbabwe side that has so far been falling on its tour of the West Indies because of a defence without stability and an attack without penetration will look forward to day two of the first Test match against hosts the West Indies.

After Brendan Taylor had continued with his toss-winning ways, Zimbabwe opted to bat and were dismissed for 211 runs. Chasing, the West Indies were 18 for two, in the match at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Opener Tinotenda Mawoyo led the way for the Zimbabwe batters, putting up the second fifty of his career. The same ball that brought it brought the hundred for Zimbabwe.

But that was as good as it got for the tourists, because Mawoyo perished soon after that – caught at short leg by Kieran Powell from the bowling of Shane Shillingford. And with him went Zimbabwe’s ability for and commitment to lengthy occupation of the crease.

And so a promising 91 for two at lunch was now 100 for three and would become 158 for six shortly before tea with the departure of Craig Ervine (29), and finish as 211 all out. 

All that because the Zimbabwe batsmen had no answer to the questions posed by the off-spin of part-timer Marlon Samuels, who retained career-best figures of four for 13 in 6.4 overs.

Shillingford finished with three for 58 in 22 overs and Kiemar Roach two for 31 in 13.

Chasing, West Indies were 18 for two at stumps, after Kyle Jarvis had accounted for opener Powell (5) and night watchman Roach (0) in similar fashion – trapping both leg before wicket.

The West Indies innings will resume on Wednesday with Christopher Gayle on 11 and Darren Bravo (0*) at the crease.