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WI v Zim 2nd Test : Day 3

Saturday, November 15 2003

Another day, another hero. On day one and two it was Brian Lara who stole the headlines with his brilliant record-breaking innings. But on day three, there was a more unlikely front-liner. Mark Vermeulen batting with calm and meaningful demeanour, scored his maiden Test hundred in Bulawayo today.

Resuming overnight on 60, Vermeulen survived a superb opening spell from Corey Collymore which included him being yorked middle stump off a noball. His partner Wishart striving for his second Test hundred fell short in the nineties when he was trapped in front to Collymore. Wishart scored 96 off 144 balls with fourteen (14) fours and two (2) sixes.

Stuart Matsikenyeri arrived at the crease and struggled against Collymore's accurate bowling. Indeed he ultimately feel to the Bajan seamer bowled for 8 - Zimbabwe 201/5. New batsman Tatenda Taibu survived a confident LBW appeal before he had scored and managed to add 78 runs with the incumbent Vermeulen, who continued to go about his innings quietly. Zimbabwe went to lunch on 279/5, three away from the follow on target.

Immediately upon resumption of play, Collymore struck again. A ball pitched up just outside offstump found Taibu pushing at it and nicely caught by Gayle at slip. As Taibu returned to the pavilion, there arose a huge ovation as team captain and first Test hero, Heath Streak strode to the crease. Unfortunately for the Bulawayo crowd, he would not repeat his antics, as he was trapped in front to Mervyn Dillon for 3.

After bowling well on day one, Dillon had until then had a poor second day's play. However, it was now that he began to find rhythm and he beat the probing bat of Blignaut first up, almost leaving Zimbabwe at 289/8. A couple of overs later, Blignaut escaped again, this time to a contentious decision by umpire Taufel. The ball pitched on middle stump and straightening appeared to have hit Blignaut plumb whilst attempting an on-drive, but was given not out.

With this life, Blignaut continued onward more solidly. However, he soon lost his partner Vermeulen, whose seven (7) hour and twelve (12) minute vigil was finally ended. Omari Banks was the culprit as he bowled Vermeulen for a very well accumulated 118. He had brought up his hundred off 264 balls and hit a total of fourteen (14) fours and one (1) six in the innings. As he walked off to a good ovation, the scoreboard read 302/8 with a clear 191-run lead for the West Indies team. Zimbabwe, despite avoiding the follow on stood in a fair amount of trouble.

The situation called for application, which Price and Blignaut provided nicely until the latter was struck in front by Corey Collymore - his fourth wicket of the day. Mahwire joined Price with the score at 336/9 and the two continued where the last partnership had left off. Mahwire did his best to stick around at the crease, keeping out a couple of sharp deliveries in his unbeaten 8. At the other end Price did the bulk of the scoring in a Zimbabwe record 41-run tenth wicket partnership. The stand and West Indian frustration was finally ended when Banks (bowling around the wicket) had Price caught at bat-pad for a very well-played 35.

Zimbabwe had fought their way from 31/3 and 302/8 to a very respectable 377 all out, limiting the visitor's lead to 104 runs. Corey Collymore was by far the most outstanding bowler of the day and the innings. He claimed 4 wickets for 70 runs in his 24 overs. Dillon (2/57), Edwards (2/48) and Banks (2/106). Edwards was off the field of play from the resumption after lunch, having a seeming foot injury tended to.

With 104 runs already in the bank and in fast fading light, the West Indian openers took the field. Streak set his run and charged in, striking Chris Gayle on the pad pushing forward first up. After a massive appeal echoed by the spectators the umpire slowly raised his finger - 0/1. Ganga got off to a streaky start when he edged a ball between a diving second slip and third slip to the boundary. He soon recovered from his jitters though, as he timed a lovely drive through the covers off the very next delivery. Wavell Hinds went on to clip a ball to the midwicket fence as he and Ganga took the score to 13/1 before play had to be called off due bad light.

Ganga will resume tomorrow on 8 and with him is Wavell Hinds on 5. The lead is 117 for the tourists with two days remaining in the game. Only 3 overs have been bowled in the West Indian innings and play will start half an hour earlier tomorrow morning to make up for lost time today and 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 377 ao (133.1 overs)
(Mark Vermeulen 118, Craig Wishart 96, Ray Price 35, Andy Blignaut 31)
(Corey Collymore 4/70, Fidel Edwards 2/48, Mervyn Dillon 2/57, Omari Banks 2/106)
West Indies 2nd innings 13/1 (3 overs)
(Daren Ganga 8 not out, Wavell Hinds 5 not out)
(Heath Streak 1/4)

Posted by Liam