West Indies on the rack after Lara's cheap dismissal

West Indies batsman Daren Ganga drives the ball watched 
by Zimbabwe wicket keeper Tatenda Taibu during the third 
day of the first Test at the Harare Sports Club, 6 November 2003
(AFP PHOTO/STR)

Friday, November 7, 2003

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP): West Indies captain Brian Lara fell cheaply on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe here on Thursday and the tourists suddenly found themselves struggling to close a huge first innings gap.

West Indies were making a positive response to Zimbabwe's first innings 507-9 declared when Lara came to the wicket at a respectable 127-2, replacing Wavell Hinds who made a forceful 68, his 11th 50 in Tests.

But when Lara was caught on the boundary for 29, his side immediately found themselves on the back foot and at the close they were 241-6, still 266 in arrears.

During the last hour of play, Zimbabwean spectators at the Harare Sports Ground were even relishing the possibility of getting the tourists out for 307 or less and enforcing the follow-on.

Lara appeared to be in sparkling form in his first Test on this ground, lashing Andy Blignaut in particular to the boundary, but he decided to take on spinner Ray Price, dancing down the wicket to hoist him towards the sightscreen.

But Blessing Mahwire made ground from mid-on and took a fine running catch.

West Indies were now 179-3 and their situation worsened when Daren Ganga, who had reached 79 for his sixth half century in Tests, was bowled by Mahwire and Ramnaresh Sarwan was out lbw to Price after never looking comfortable. 

Ganga's dismissal was unfortunate. A ball bounced off his bat to the ground, then onto his elbow and from there dropped in slow motion onto the stumps.

Ridley Jacobs made only five runs before giving a catch to Mark Vermeulen off Ray Price, a pad-bat decision by Billy Bremner.

It was Zimbabwe's day and if they can hold on to the form they displayed on Thursday they could even have West Indies on the rack for the next two days.

Before the day's play, a freak accident delayed proceedings for two hours. A practice ball rolled onto the pitch, right under a roller and became embedded. It required some specialised equipment borrowed from the neighbouring Royal Harare Golf Club to make repairs.

Scoreboard at the close of play on the third day:

Zimbabwe 1st innings 507-9 declared

West Indies 1st innings (overnight 11-0)
C. Gayle lbw b Streak 14
W. Hinds c Blignaut b Mahwire 79
D. Ganga b Mahwire 73
B. Lara c Mahwire b R. Price 29
R. Sarwan lbw b R. Price 9
S. Chanderpaul not out 19
R. Jacobs c Vermeulen b Price 5
V. Drakes not out 0
Extras (4b,4lb, 4nb, 1w) 13
Total (for 6 wkts) 241

Fall: 1-50, 2-127, 3-179, 4-211, 5-215, 6-240

Bowling: A. Blignaut 14-3-68-0 (3nb, 1w), H. Streak 18-4-55-1 (1nb), B. Mahwire 18-5-60-2, R. Price 18-9-39-3, S. Matsikenyere 2-0-10-0, Trevor Gripper 1-0-1-0. 

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version