Zimpapers Logo

Hamilton Masakadza

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
Zimbabwe first innings 169-4 61 overs (Masakadza 101, Moor 52, Roach 2/24, Chase 1/26)

OPENING batsman Hamilton Masakadza notched up his fifth Test hundred and his second against West Indies to leave Zimbabwe in a fairly comfortable position on a rain affected first day of the second cricket Test at Queens Sports Club yesterday.

Masakadza survived three West Indies attempts to remove him and played some gorgeous shots to finish the day unbeaten on 101 from 171 deliveries. His innings was made up of nine fours and two sixes when rain brought an early end to play.

The veteran batsman put on 142 runs for the fourth wicket partnership with Peter Moor, who chipped in with a valuable 52 as Zimbabwe, who won the toss and opted to bat first, closed the day on 169 for four in 61 overs.

Having lost the first Test by 117 runs, Zimbabwe made two changes. Sean Williams was left out because he is not feeling well, while seamer Kyle Jarvis is struggling with an ankle injury. Batsman Moor was recalled for his fifth Test and left-arm spinner Tendai Chisoro made his Test debut at 29.

Masakadza was delighted to have finally converted the promising starts he has had in the past into a big score.

“It’s great to finally manage to convert. I was thinking about those starts. I was just hoping that if I did get another start I would push through, so I am quite happy to be still out there now,” said Masakadza.

He reckons any score above 350 runs would be competitive in the first innings, with the crucial part being that he and Sikandar Raza build on a good stand.

“I will just try to build another partnership with Raza, see how deep the two of us can take it. Anything over 350 will be good for us,” he said.

Zimbabwe made a catastrophic start with Solomon Mire going in the fourth over, removed by Kemar Roach; a bottom edge that was caught behind by Shane Dowrich.

It was soon two down for Zimbabwe with just 11 runs on the board; Craig Ervine bowled by Shannon Gabriel for a seven-ball duck, his middle stump uprooted by the pace of the ball.

The slaughter continued with Brendan Taylor getting an inside edge onto the leg stump off Roach’s delivery for a single run off 10 balls to leave the home team reeling on 14 for three in 9.1 overs.

It was almost four down with the score on 22 when Masakadza, on 15, had a Gabriel delivery come off his bat onto his shoulder and was caught at gully by Shai Hope. Masakadza was not given out and West Indies captain Jason Holder went for a review, which showed that Gabriel had in fact overstepped and the batsman survived. Masakadza survived once again shortly after; his edge off Roach’s bowling falling short of Dowrich.

After facing 96 deliveries and having struck five fours, Masakadza reached his eighth Test 50 with a boundary off Holder’s bowling. Soon after getting to his half ton, Masakadza upped the tempo with some beautiful sixes, the first off the bowling of leg spinner Devendra Bishooo and the second from off-break bowler Roston Chase. This also saw him reaching 2 000 Test runs.

Masakadza was given out on 86 to Chase, but a review showed the ball missed his bat and glove on its way to short leg.

Zimbabwe lost no further wickets during the second session to move to 147 for three in 53 overs, with Masakadza on 92 and Moor on 47.

Moor reached his third Test 50 soon after tea with a boundary off the bowling of Chase. He lost his wicket soon after for 52, bowled by Chase to bringing to an end his impressive partnership with Masakadza.

Moor faced 148 balls and dispatched three fours in his innings.

When rain interrupted play, Masakadza had been joined at the crease by Raza, who was also unbeaten on nine. Play will resume 30 minutes early today in a bid to make up for the time lost to rain yesterday.