West Indies in command after Chanderpaul’s unbeaten 207
SUMMARY: West Indies 447-6 declared (Chanderpaul 207*, Brathwaite 182; Mavuta 5-140) lead Zimbabwe 114-3 (Kaia 59*; Brathwaite 1-5) by 333 runs
West Indies tightened their grip on the Bulawayo Test with a thoroughly dominating performance on the third day, which saw them first rack up 447-6 declared and then reduce Zimbabwe to 114-3 by stumps.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul was the star of the day, having converted his overnight ton into a big unbeaten double hundred. He was steady to start the day, allowing Kraigg Brathwaite to take charge, with whom he added 336 runs for the first wicket. It was West Indies’ highest opening stand in Test cricket.
Brathwaite, who scored 182 before he was trapped lbw by Wellington Masakadza, set the tone early and hit three consecutive boundaries off Ngarava in the third over of the day. He went after Mavuta too and brought up his 150 in the spinner’s first over.
Largely thanks to him, WI accumulated 153 in the morning session. Chanderpaul, on the other hand, played the ideal foil and picked his deliveries well.
He hit his first boundary closer to lunch and even got a reprieve on 150 when Chibhabha dropped a catch at fine leg off the bowling of Mavuta. Brathwaite, too was let off on 167 as Mavuta failed to grab a sharp return chance.
Chanderpaul picked up his scoring in the second session, growing in confidence and intent as the session progressed. He got to his double ton with a six while he was on 199*, smoking Masakadza over mid-off.
The only time Zimbabwe appeared to be in the game was in the middle session, when WI lost four wickets in the first hour in pursuit of quick runs.
Mavuta struck in his consecutive overs to get rid of Riefer and Blackwood. Tagenarine, though, kept the runs coming and even hit a six off Wellington Masakadza. Roston Chase perished in pursuit of quick runs too but the intent from West Indies fetched 61 runs.
In response, Zimbabwe openers got through to Tea unscathed, with Innocent Kaia even pinching his first Test runs. He went on to finish the day on 59* on his debut.
Along with Tanunurwa Makoni, Kaia added 63 for the first wicket before the former was caught at first slip while trying to drive a delivery from Alzarri Joseph. Chibhabha was nicked off by Gudakesh Motie, but the real blow was the wicket of captain Craig Ervine on the stroke of stumps; he was bowled by a nippy delivery from Brathwaite. (cricbuzz)
