BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (AFP) — Opener Kieran Powell fell narrowly short of a century but the West Indies still made steady progress in their first innings on the third morning of the second Test against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
Powell turned his overnight score of 43 into a hard-earned 90, but his dismissal saw the West Indies reach lunch on 188 for four in response to Zimbabwe’s 326 all out.
While the second evening at Queens Sports Club had produced attritional cricket as the West Indian scoring rate crawled along, the tourists were more adventurous on day three with Powell leading the way in a 55-run stand for the second wicket with night-watchman Devendra Bishoo.
It took the introduction of off-spinner Sikandar Raza to change the course of the morning, as he had Bishoo caught and bowled for 23 and then trapped Kyle Hope lbw for one.
Powell looked destined for a fourth Test century after he was dropped on 85 by Graeme Cremer, but seamer Chris Mpofu ensured the mistake was not costly as he used the second new ball to have the opener caught at gully.
Kai Hope and Roston Chase reached lunch on 23 and 16 respectively, as the West Indies scored 110 runs in the morning session to reduce the deficit to 138.
The West Indies lead the two-match series 1-0.
