BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, CMC – Rookie left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was closing in on his second five-wicket haul of the match as West Indies hurt Zimbabwe Tuesday’s third day of the decisive final Test.
The 27-year-old picked up a career-best seven-wicket haul in the first innings and snatched four for 59, a spell which reduced the hosts to 158 for seven in their second innings at Queens Sports Club – still 19 runs behind.
West Indies added just two to their overnight 290 for eight to arm themselves with a 177-run first-innings lead and then quickly extended their advantage when Zimbabwe tumbled to 15 for two.
However, captain Craig Ervine has so far propped up the innings with an unbeaten 69 but has been one of only two players to reach double figures – the other being opener Innocent Kaia who made 43.
The pair came together with the innings in trouble and posted 41 for the third wicket, which helped Zimbabwe to lunch at 46 for two.
When Kaia, who struck seven fours in a breezy 57-ball knock, perished in the third over following the resumption, Ervine put on a further 30 for the fourth with Milton Shumba (7), 29 for the seventh with Wellington Masakadza before anchoring an unbroken eighth wicket stand of 34 with Brandon Mavuta (16 not out).
The two-match series stands at nil-all following a draw in last week’s first Test.
and then 