Bulawayo: Leg spinner Devendra Bishoo put the West Indies in firm control of the first Test as he ran through Zimbabwe’s batting line-up on the second afternoon at Queens Sports Club on Sunday.
After picking up two wickets in the first session, Bishoo grabbed three more in the second to record his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests.
With fast bowlers Jason Holder and Kemar Roach contributing two wickets apiece, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 159 to give the West Indies a first-innings lead of 60.
While the turning pitch has provided assistance to the spinners on the opening two days, Zimbabwe’s batsmen were largely culpable for their own downfall.
The hosts made a positive start in reply to West Indies’ 219 all out, with openers Hamilton Masakadza and Solomon Mire moving their overnight total from 19 to 44 without loss.
But an overly adventurous stroke from Mire allowed Roach to strike, as the debutant was caught on the midwicket boundary for 27.
That lack of patience in the face of some disciplined bowling on a slow surface set the tone for Zimbabwe’s innings.
Mire’s replacement, Craig Ervine, dug in alongside Masakadza as the pair put on 47 for the second wicket to put Zimbabwe back in control.
But from 91 for one Zimbabwe slipped to 139 for seven as Masakadza felt for a Bishoo delivery and edged behind, Brendan Taylor reverse-swept the leg-spinner to slip and Sikandar Raza holed out to long-off.
Meanwhile, Sean Williams chased a wide delivery from Roach and was caught behind, before Bishoo completed his five-wicket haul when Regis Chakabva offered a tame catch to backward point.
Shannon Gabriel finished off the innings with the wicket of Chris Mpofu on the stroke of tea.
The opening day of the Test saw eight of the West Indies’ ten wickets fall to spin, with captain Graeme Cremer leading the way for Zimbabwe with figures of 4 for 64. Shai Hope top-scored for the tourists with 90 not out.
