Windies fight back back after Raza five-for

When Sikandar Raza reduced the Windies to 230-7 with his first ever five-for Zimbabwe could have imagined themselves batting again with something of a lead on day three of the second test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Indeed he had just removed the dangerman Shai Hope for 40 and it seemed as if it would only be a matter of time before the Windies innings was done.

But not with captain Jason Holder (71) partnered by wicketkeeper Shane Dorwich (75) as they put on an unbeaten 144-run partnership leaving the Windies on 374-7, a lead of 48 in the first innings. Indeed that stand is the

And it was again a case of Zimbabwe not taking advantage of pressure when they had the wind in their sales as they will have been guilty of keeping Raza and captain Graeme Cremer for too long after the fall of the seventh wicket. Indeed even as they bled runs they persisted with the same tactic allowing confidence to seep into a Windies innings that looked to be in trouble.

Wayward deliveries were too often the case in the afternoon as Zimbabwe struggle to wrest control from Holder and Dorwich.

Zimbabwe will now hope that they can regain some of the enthusiasm from earlier in the day when Raza and Tendai Chisoro got the ball gripping and turning dramatically. Also probably looking at that spectacular catch from Craig Ervine might come as a source of inspiration.

Play resumes at 9.30am on Wednesday.