The declaration by Zimbabwe has thrown the first Test against West Indies wide open, with the possibility of all three results on the final day.
Former England test batsman Gary Ballance scored an unbeaten century on debut to lead Zimbabwe in a sterling fightback on the fourth day of the first test against West Indies at the Queens Sports Club on Tuesday.
Gary Ballance became only the second Test batsman after Kepler Wessels to score a century for two countries, hitting an unbeaten 137 for Zimbabwe against the West Indies in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Needing at least 248 runs in reply to a West Indies’ declaration of 447-6 to avoid a possible follow-on, Zimbabwe declared at 379-9 after the second session on day four of the first Test.
Alzarri Joseph (3-75) struck twice early in the day to remove Kaia for 67 and Tanunurwa Makoni for 33. also he get Tafadzwa Tsiga for 2.
Zimbabwe were still trailing by 68 when they declared, giving the bowlers 13 overs in the day to have a go at West Indies’ top order.
But Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, fresh from recording West Indies’ highest-ever opening stand, were once again stoic at the crease, and saw the day out without any damage to finish the day with a lead of 89.
After’s the fourth day’s play, Joseph spoke to the media and shared his reaction on the declaration.
“um, a little bit but I guess we understand it because Zimbabwe is trying to do a lot of it. I’m trying to get 10 wickets and then hopefully they can get there also first it’s you know our platform you’ve got a good belief so we’ve got to put some environment try to get together” he said to media
West Indies lead by 89 runs going into the final day on Wednesday. They were 21-0 in their second innings at the close of play on Tuesday.