BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, CMC – A combination of their lethargy in the field, a defiant, undefeated fifth Test hundred from former England batsman Gary Ballance, and his demoralising hundred-run stand with Brandon Mavuta derailed West Indies and enabled Zimbabwe to make a bold declaration in the first Test yesterday, setting up an intriguing final day.
In an all-too-familiar turn of events, the Windies surrendered control when Ballance, not out on 137 in his first innings for the land of his birth, and Mavuta, with a career-best 56, set up the Zimbabweans for a declaration on 379 for nine, replying to the Caribbean side’s first innings total of 447 for seven declared, on the third day at the Queen’s Sport Club.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, not out on 11, and fellow opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, not out on 10, batted through 13 overs with little trouble in almost an hour before the close and carried the visitors to 21 without loss in their second innings, for an overall lead of 89.
The Windies appeared in command when they captured four wickets – two to pacer Alzarri Joseph – in the morning period, and the hosts stumbled to 192 for seven at lunch.
But West Indies missed opportunities off successive balls from left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie to dismiss Mavuta, and he got together with Ballance to add 135 for the eighth wicket and spur a revival that enabled the Zimbabweans to avoid the follow-on and reset the contest.
Fielder Roston Chase misfielded and allowed Mavuta, on four, to retreat safely, after the Zimbabwe No. 9 slapped the second delivery of Motie’s 20th over – the second after lunch – to short third man and took off for a single, but Ballance sent him back, leaving him practically at the point of no return.
Next ball, Jason Holder put down a dolly at mid-off when Mavuta attempted a lofted drive and failed to find the middle of the bat.
For close to two hours, the Windies looked on with resignation, as Ballance, who played 23 Tests for England and scored four hundreds previously, gradually blossomed and reached his milestone from 190 balls when he deposited Motie over the square leg boundary for the second of his two sixes in the penultimate over before tea.
Ballance became only the second cricketer after former Australia opener and South Africa captain Kepler Wessels to score Test hundreds for two countries, and the third to score a hundred on Test debut for Zimbabwe.
The Windies failed to create any other other chances to make the breakthrough before tea, and Mavuta followed up the career-best five wickets he took with his leg-spin in the Caribbean side’s innings with a purposeful half-century that he reached from 107 balls when he drove Motie to deep cover for a single two overs before Ballance got to his landmark.
Holder returned for a spell immediately after the Zimbabweans resumed from 313 for seven at tea and bowled Mavuta in the seventh over after the break with a delivery that kept low and may create some suspicion about the pitch on the final day today, when both sides try to push for a win.
Things continued to slip for West Indies when Ballance anchored two small partnerships with tail-enders Victor Nyauchi and Richard Nagarava to cut the deficit further before the declaration came.
Joseph was the most successful Windies bowler with 3-75 fom 26 overs, fellow pacer Jason Holder grabbed 2-55 from 17 overs without being threatening, and Motie persevered to grab 2-110 from 33 overs.
“We were not feeling any pressure because we had a fairly big total on the board, and we set out to win the game,” Joseph said after play.
“Of course, we wanted to get them out for as little as possible, but it didn’t happen. We have one more day of cricket, and we’ll be looking to go again and try to win.”
He added: “The pitch is pretty flat, and the final day should be a good batting day, but we will be trying to win the game.
“We were a bit surprised by the declaration, but we understand it because Zimbabwe is also trying to make a game our of it.”
Joseph struck in successive overs of his opening spell when he trapped debutant opener Innocent Kaia lbw for 67 in the seventh over of the day, and he added the scalp of Tafadzwa Tsiga also lbw for two two overs later.
Fellow pacer Kemar Roach followed up with the wicket of Craig Evans caught behind for seven, edging a back-foot drive, and Zimbabwe had sunk to 148 for five.
There were signs of the labour pains to come for West Indies, but they failed to heed the warning, when Wellington Masakadza came to the crease and easily added 45 with Ballance for the seventh wicket.
Motie enabled the Windies to consume lunch with greater comfort when he got Masakadza caught at mid-off for 15, sinking Zimbabwe to 192 for seven, with Ballance limping to 38 not out, and the hosts still needing 56 to avoid the follow-on.
After lunch, things unravelled for Brathwaite’s side, and Ballance and Mavuta added 121 between lunch and tea, batting their side to safety, with West Indies failing to get a wicket.