Bulawayo – Careless batting and their opponents’ doggedness eroded the authority of West Indies after a destructive spell from left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie enabled them to dismiss Zimbabwe cheaply in the first Test yesterday.
Nothing epitomised the carelessness of the Windies batting more than the run-out of Raymon Reifer for the top score so far of 53 before the visitors reached 133 for four when bad light stopped play six overs early on the first day at the Queen’s Sports Club, for a first innings lead of 18.
Motie improved upon his career-best from the previous Test with 7-37 from 15.4 overs on a slow, but turning pitch, and Jason Holder supported with 2-18 from seven overs, and West Indies demolished the Zimbabweans for 115 in their first innings about 40 minutes before tea to gain early control.
“I really enjoyed bowling on this pitch because it is similar conditions to where I live, so it is spin-friendly, and I just had to put the ball in the right areas to reap success,” Motie told reporters after play. (CMC)