West Indies Shane Shillingford proves Zimbabwe's tormentor again

Zimbabwe crumbled yet again to the spin of Shane Shillingford as the West Indies reached a commanding position at the close of the first day of the second and final test at Windsor Park here on Wednesday.

Playing in front of his home fans, Shillingford followed up his nine-wicket match haul from the first test in Barbados the previous week with a haul of five for 59.

Marlon Samuels, who claimed his best test innings figures of four for 13 on the opening day at Kensington Oval, snared three for 15 to bundle out Zimbabwe for just 175.

Kyle Jarvis removed Kieran Powell and Darren Bravo in quick succession when the home side replied, but Chris Gayle (61 not out) and Marlon Samuels (26 not out) reasserted the West Indies dominance in an unbroken 79-run third-wicket stand

that took their team to the close at 114 for to.

It leaves the Zimbabweans needing a performance that has been beyond them in recent years in winning the test to square the series.

In stark contrast to their parlous position however, the day started promisingly for the Zimbabweans after they were inserted by West Indies captain Darren Sammy with openers Vusi Sibanda and Tino Mawoyo putting on 42 at better than a run-a-minute before the introduction of Shannon Gabriel shifted the tide of play completely.

Mawoyo was bowled offering no shot and the burly fast bowler then removed Sibanda, who had hammered three consecutive fours off Kemar Roach, the attacking player tamely stroking a full toss low to Roach at mid-on.

From that point on, the visitors struggled to get back on an even keel, Brendan Taylor's topscore of 33 being the captain's best effort of a disappointing tour while debutant Sean Williams showed a bit of character in getting to 31.

... contd.

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