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FIVE-STAR PERFORMANCE . . . Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza Butt (left), who grabbed five wickets at Queens Sports Club yesterday, discusses a strategy with his skipper Graeme Cremer. – AFP

Mehluli Sibanda in BULAWAYO
OFF-spinner Sikandar Raza picked up his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket only for his brilliant effort to be overshadowed by a battling show from West Indies who surged ahead of Zimbabwe on day three of the second cricket Test at Queens Sports Club yesterday. Raza was superb, picking up five wickets for 82 runs from 43 overs with 12 of those not costing a run, only for his gallant effort being eclipsed by a record-breaking eighth wicket stand between West Indies skipper Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich.

The off break bowler became the first Zimbabwean slow bowler to take five wickets in a Test at Queens since left arm spinner, Raymond Price, claimed five for 199 runs in the second Test against West Indies at Queens Sports Club in November 2003. Kieran Powell top scored for the tourists with 90 runs, Dowrich ended the day with a career best 75 while Holder was also not out on 71, with the two putting on a 144 in a yet to be broken eighth-wicket stand to leave the visitors on 374 for seven in 150 overs.

West Indies now lead Zimbabwe by 48 runs with three first innings wickets in hand. It was a day in things did not work out for the home team despite the occasional promise. Zimbabwe dropped three catches and made two terrible reviews early into the West Indies innings. Those costly errors came back to haunt Graeme Cremer as Holder should have been out leg before wicket on 11, off Raza’s bowling. Raza was denied a sixth wicket with the first ball of his 31st over, umpire Kumar Dharmasena somehow giving Holder not out.

Television replays showed that he was meant to have been out, as plumb as they ever come, but Zimbabwe having wasted their reviews, they could not seek an overturning of the decision. It was a cruel decision for the hosts and the Windies skipper made full use of his life. The off spinner, considered more of a part time option, was delighted to have finally taken five wickets in a Test. He was glad to play his part as an all-rounder since they were missing the services of pace bowler Kyle Jarvis and left arm spinner Sean Williams.

“It’s quite a humbling and proud feeling to be honest and to see your team doing well while you have a fiver is certainly one of the roles that you have to play as an all rounder. We always knew that missing Jarvis and Sean was would be tough,’’ Raza said. He felt that he deserved the decision which did not go his way since he is the one who had wasted one of the reviews earlier on in a bid to remove Powell.

“To be honest with you, I said to the captain, I said to him I think I deserve that because I went for a review that I shouldn’t have when we took the review on Powell so it couldn’t have happened to a better guy than me,’’ he said. Cremer could have had his second wicket early into the third day’s play, Bishoo, on 20 getting one up in the air, Brendan Taylor seemed to have it under control but shockingly dropped the catch. Luckily, the drop did not cost much, Bishoo added three more runs prior to being caught and bowled by Raza. Kyle Hope did not last at the crease, gone for one run, trapped leg before wicket by Raza.

Cremer put Powell down once more, this time on 85, again off his own bowling, the batsman hitting the ball straight at the bowler who could not hold onto the catch. Christopher Mpofu, in his second over with the second new ball banged one in, Powell went back and fended the ball to Ervine at gully, with the fielder taking a superb catch. This brought an end to his innings which saw him face up to 230 deliveries, in 306 minutes at the crease and dispatched seven fours.

Left arm spinner Chisoro could have picked up his first wicket in Test cricket, Shai Hope getting an edge only for wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva to put down the chance behind. Raza picked up his third wicket, Roston Chase gone to play a reverse sweep to be trapped leg before wicket for 32. Jermaine Blackwood did not last at the crease, Raza with his fourth, the batsman taken at mid wicket by Cremer. Shai Hope became Raza’s fifth wicket, bowled for 40, the ball rattling the batsman’s off stump. The partnership between Dowrich and Holder frustrated the home team as both batsmen went on to notch up their half centuries. Zimbabwe have to certainly put up a fine show when the match heads into day four this morning if they are to thwart West Indies from obtaining a huge first innings lead.

Scores

West Indies 374-7 (Powell 90, Dowrich 75*, Holder 71*, Raza 5/82) lead Zimbabwe 326 (Masakadza 147, Raza 80, Moor 52, Roach 3/44) by 48 runs