Chase hits half-century as West Indies put Zimbabwe beneath stress

West Indies 290 for 8 (Chase 70, Reifer 53, Nyauchi 3-56) lead Zimbabwe 115 by 175 runs

Play did not resume after what was the second rain interruption of the day at 4.45pm, barely 35 minutes following a restart after unhealthy climate had first halted the match for two-and-a-half hours. But till then, Chase and Da Silva’s 85-run partnership for the sixth wicket had ensured the guests ended the day effectively forward of the hosts’ complete of 115.

Only 49 overs and 4 balls had been potential on the second day which had begun with in a single day batters Chase and Kyle Mayers on the crease, as Zimbabwe began with Victor Nyauchi’s tempo and Brandon Mavuta’s legspin. The ball turned and sometimes stopped on the gradual floor for Mavuta, who invited Mayers into driving and slashing by pitching the ball into the tough from across the wicket.

And as Mavuta saved it comparatively tight, he was rewarded with Mayers’ wicket when the batter discovered midwicket whereas swiping at a full toss angled in and dipping on him. Soon after, Zimbabwe changed Mavuta with the left-arm spin of Wellington Masakadza towards right-handers Chase and Da Silva, however each batters discovered the occasional boundary off him, whereas additionally holding the scoreboard ticking.

Chase introduced up his eleventh Test fifty to start out the 68th over, as he pushed Masakadza to the off aspect. Da Silva appeared notably spectacular with the pull and the whip throughout the road every time the spinners went quick, as West Indies racked up 103 runs within the first session; play within the afternoon even started when he clipped Mavuta huge of mid-on for 4, earlier than the hosts quietened issues down.

Chase and Da Silva’s partnership stretched the lead past 150. Zimbabwe additionally took the brand new ball, with Nyauchi and Masakadza sharing it; and within the eighty fifth over, Nyauchi angled one into Chase, hitting the center stump, because the batter drove ahead and was overwhelmed.

Rain arrived two balls after that, and when play resumed, Nyauchi eliminated Da Silva, who was additionally cleaned up. The ball hit the highest of center stump, as Nyauchi pitched it on the shorter aspect of a size huge of off, just for it to dart again in sharply to slip previous Da Silva’s defence.

New batter Alzarri Joseph whipped the primary ball he confronted for 4, earlier than falling on the very subsequent supply. This time Nyauchi banged it briefly, getting it to climb quickly on center and off, as Joseph’s pull got here off the upper aspect of the bat, and went solely so far as midwicket, the place Tanunurwa Makoni moved to his proper whereas holding his eyes on the ball all by way of to finish the seize.

But the day nonetheless belonged to West Indies, who will likely be cautious of extra rain forecast for the approaching days.