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WI v Zim 2nd Test : Day 2

Friday, November 14 2003

Following on from where he left off on day one, Brian Lara passed Sir Vivian Richards to become the all-time highest Test run-scorer for the West Indies. His accomplishment came during a masterclass innings of 191, continuing from his overnight 77.

Together with partner Ramnaresh Sarwan, the West Indies captain helped add 190 runs for the fourth wicket of the innings. The two improved the score from an overnight 282 to 351, before Sarwan was out caught bat/pad for a well-played 65. This brought Shivnarine Chanderpaul to the crease and he looked to have few troubles in reaching 15, before he was out to a very poor decision by umpire Rudy Koertzen. A ball from Ray Price which Chanderpaul padded up to deflected to Wishart at slip and was promptly given out.

Despite the controversy and all the while Lara continued to dominate the Zimbabwe bowlers, smashing Price for a straight one-handed six. First Test hero, Ridley Jacobs came and went for 1, snared at slip off a Streak delivery and then Omari Banks (3) was trapped LBW by an impressive Andy Blignaut. At this stage, the innings had slipped from 389/4 to 422/7.

Dillon joined Lara and the two carried the innings to lunch without further loss and the score at 449, with the latter hitting his second one-handed six along the way. Lara went in poised for yet another Test match double hundred at 191. However, the lunch break apparently broke his concentration, as he guided the second ball he saw on resumption straight into the hands of Wishart at a short third slip. The fielder had been specifically placed there after Lara exercised a series of fine glides and cuts throughout his majestic knock.

Lara's innings lasted 203 balls and he was at the crease for four hours and thirty-one minutes. The 104 runs scored on day two came off just 110 balls. He hit eleven (11) of his twenty-three (23) fours and all four (4) of his sixes on day two. Upon his departure, Collymore and Dillon proceeded to display genuine batting skills as they frustrated the Zimbabwean attack with orthodox defensive and attacking shots. The highlight of their 26-run partnership was a beautifully executed pull shot by Dillon off Streak.

Eventually Dillon (19) skied a high catch to Matsikenyeri, giving Price his fifth wicket (and fifteenth in three innings) and Blignaut had Edwards caught at the wicket for 0. The innings ended at 481 off 107 overs and Collymore remained unbeaten on 16. Ray Price once again possessed the pick of the figures with 5/199 off his 43 overs. However, it was Andy Blignaut with 4/86 off 20 overs who was the pick of the bowlers as he bowled with genuine heart and purpose.

Facing an uphill battle and a follow on target of 282, Sibanda and Gripper strode to the wicket to do battle. In a shocking development, Brian Lara opted to use part-time swing bowler, Wavell Hinds with the new ball. Hinds then proceeded to bowl an outswinger first up which beat the bat of Sibanda. The next over proved a mixed bag, as Edwards produced a noball, a ball down the legside and an offside wide before he received a closed-face return catch off the bat of Sibanda, out for 2.

With the score improving by 5 runs to 10/1, Gripper bottom-edged a pull shot off Dillon into his stumps - 10/2. Now the pressure was on and the signs ominous, not more so than when Edwards beat Carlisle's attempted defensive stroke to rattle his stumps. Carlisle had scored just 11 runs and Zimbabwe 31. Despite the early setbacks, Wishart and Vermeulen continued, batting with confidence and class.

At the end of the day, they have assisted in rescuing their team from trouble with a superb unbeaten stand of 142. Wishart will resume tomorrow on 86 (136 balls, 13 fours and 1 six) and Vermeulen on 60 (175 balls, 7 fours and 1 six). Fidel Edwards (2/32) was the best West Indian bowler statistically with Dillon (1/20 off 15 overs) being the other wicket-taker.

The Zimbabwean score at stumps is 173/3, still needing a further 109 runs to make the West Indies bat again and 308 runs to equal the visiting effort.

Play is scheduled to once again begin half and hour early to make up for lost time on day one.

MATCH SUMMARY:

West Indies 1st innings 481 ao (107 overs)
(Brian Lara 191, Wavell Hinds 81, Ramnaresh Sarwan 65, Chris Gayle 47)
(Ray Price 5/199, Andy Blignaut 4/86)
Zimbabwe 1st innings 173/3 (59 overs)
(Craig Wishart 83 not out, Mark Vermeulen 60 not out)
(Fidel Edwards 2/32, Mervyn Dillon 1/20)

Posted by Liam