WI caught in Zim spinning web

Zimbabwe spinners Graeme Cremer and Sean Williams shared seven wickets as the West Indies were bowled out for 219 on the opening day of the first Test at Queens Sports Club on Saturday.

Cremer claimed 4 for 64 and Williams took 3 for 20, with most of those wickets coming in a dramatic hour in which the West Indies lost their last seven wickets for 45 runs.

Top scorer Shai Hope was left stranded on 90 not out as he ran out of partners, with opener Kieran Powell's 56 the only other score of note on a pitch that took turn from the very first session.

Zimbabwe then made a positive start to their reply, with Hamilton Masakadza and debutant Solomon

Mire carrying them to the close of play on 19 without loss.

Powell and Shai Hope kept West Indies ticking along on a slow day. Powell scored 56 before he fell to Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer in the second session, while Hope ran out of partner with wickets falling in the final session thick and fast against the spinners.

The visiting side's sluggish progress after winning the toss was due to the slow surface, but also some combative bowling from Zimbabwe.

Both batsmen were caught behind by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva, though Hope was only given out after the Decision Review System revealed an edge and overturned umpire Paul Reiffel's original decision.

From 35 for two, the West Indies rallied with a 75-run stand for the third wicket between Powell and Shai Hope, but Zimbabwe remained patient and never let the West Indian scoring accelerate.

That allowed the hosts to take control once again when Cremer made the breakthrough, as Powell was brilliantly caught at short leg by Craig Ervine.

SCORES IN BRIEF

WEST INDIES: First innings 219 all out in 82.5 overs (Powell 56, Hope 90 not out, Chase 31; Cremer 4-64, Williams 3-20)

ZIMBABWE:  First innings 19-0 in 5 overs (Masakadza 0 not out, Mire 17 not out)