Zimbabwe XI face uphill task after West Indians post 517
West Indians – 517-8 in 132.5 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 116, Joshua Da Silva 100, Roston Chase 87*; Milton Shumba 3/80, Donald Tiripano 2/34, Tanaka Chivanga 1/23)
Zimbabwe XI – 52-5 in 21.3 overs (Timycen Maruma 15*, Tanunurwa Makoni 13, Joylord Gumbie 11; Alzarri Joseph 2/12, Kyle Mayers 1/0, Jason Holder 1/2)
Day 2 – Stumps: Zimbabwe XI trail by 465 runs
A century from the West Indian wicket-keeper, Joshua da Silva, was the highlight of a day that was disappointing for the Zimbabwe XI team at Bulawayo Athletic Club on Sunday.
The tourists ran up a total of 517 in their first innings and by the time bad light stopped play the home side had slumped to 52 for five wickets.
This match will not be included in the first-class records because both teams decided to play their full squads of 15 players in a mere practice game, although only 11 players per side are allowed to bat or field at a time.
The tourists began the day on 313 for five in their first innings, the overnight batters being Devon Thomas on 42 and da Silva on nine.
Thomas just missed his fifty, being out for 49 when he tried to hook a short ball from Donald Tiripano, but edged a catch to the wicket-keeper, Tafadzwa Tsiga, at 334 for six.
Then followed a dazzling century partnership between da Silva and Roston Chase.
Da Silva reached his century and then retired, having scored exactly 100 off 149 balls, with 13 fours.
Jason Holder scored only four before he chopped a ball from Milton Shumba on to his stumps, and after lunch Shumba had Alzarri Joseph caught at slip for 11.
Chase was not out with 87 (83 balls, two sixes and nine fours), and with 10 wickets having gone down the innings was over for a total of 517.
Shumba took three wickets, which included the last two in the batting order, but went for 80 runs off 11.5 runs.
Tiripano’s figures were more impressive, two for 34 off 13.3 overs.
The Zimbabwe XI batters were soon in trouble against the pace of the West Indians.
Kudzai Maunze was the first to go, in the second over without a run on the board, as he edged a delivery from Joseph to the wicket-keeper.
Joylord Gumbie hit two fours, but was then out for 11, in the same way as Maunze.
The other opening batter, Tanu Makoni, fought hard to score 13, but was then third out at 30, caught at slip off Kyle Mayers.
Wessly Madhevere quickly went lbw to Holder without scoring, while Tony Munyonga was caught on the leg side off a bouncer from Shannon Gabriel for one.
Timycen Maruma and Shumba then showed some spirit by fighting off the attack and surviving until the early close due to poor light and lightning, with Maruma having made 15 and Shumba nine.
