da 888： The weather was sunny, but cold and windy as West Indies set out in theirefforts to build a match-winning lead over Zimbabwe
John Ward28-Jul-2001The weather was sunny, but cold and windy as West Indies set out in theirefforts to build a match-winning lead over Zimbabwe. Apart fromschoolchildren bussed in from the development areas in the townships, thecrowd remained very small, as no doubt the population were unimpressed byeither the temperature or the Zimbabwean performance on the first day. Bythe close Zimbabwe, having conceded a deficit of 216 runs on first innings,had scored 27 for one wicket, lost in controversial circumstances.Zimbabwe struck with the sixth ball of the morning, as ShivnarineChanderpaul, without addition to the overnight 126 for two or his score of74, nibbled at a ball from Heath Streak outside his off stump and nicked astraightforward catch to the ‘keeper. It was the 24th time Chanderpaul haspassed fifty in Test cricket, and only twice has he gone on to reach threefigures. Two overs later Hooper drove Streak to the cover boundary and WestIndies had taken the lead.Ramnaresh Sarwan, who managed only three runs off his first 50 balls,struggled to find his touch against an attack showing more purpose than ithad the previous evening, but finally began to open up. When Andy Blignautreplaced Streak, Hooper pulled him effortlessly for six; then, when BryanStrang returned, Hooper (39) drove a catch straight to short mid-wicket; 180for four.Zimbabwe might have struck again but a rare error by wicket-keeper TatendaTaibu, diving in front of the slips, let Marlon Samuels off on four. Afterlunch Samuels (39) made Zimbabwe pay dearly for a while, as he drovebeautifully straight and on the off side, frequently leaving the fieldstanding. Then, drawn forward and deceived by Raymond Price, he edged acatch to slip. Price, although not always as accurate as he might havebeen, troubled the batsmen at times with unexpected turn and bounce.The second new ball claimed Courtney Browne (13), pushing outside the offstump to a ball from Blignaut to be caught by Taibu. Sarwan in the meantimehad passed his fifty, batting with great confidence and the occasional finestroke, especially the cover drive, but with his eyes firmly set on a maidenTest century.Neil McGarrell proved a useful ally at the crease, but Sarwan wasunfortunate to miss the century he deserved; taking a quick single tomid-off, he was narrowly run out for 86 by a brilliant direct hit fromHamilton Masakadza. He had faced 226 balls in 303 minutes and hit 13 fours,and West Indies were 333 for seven.Colin Stuart scored one before being lbw to Strang, who also had McGarrellcaught in the gully for 33, while Price finished the innings at 347 bybowling Marlon Black, swinging across the line, for six. West Indies led by216 on first innings.Dion Ebrahim and Alistair Campbell had eight overs to negotiate before theclose, and both began dourly before taking advantage of some loose balls.Ebrahim (12) was given out caught at the wicket off Colin Stuart in thefinal over, the ball rebounding off his body. Television commentatorsdescribed umpire Jayaprakash’s decision as a ‘shocker’.