Andy Flower, Gripper in rescue act

The touring team had earlier captured the last seven West Indian wickets for 108 after they resumed at 79 for three, following the rain-hit first day.

However, Flower and Gripper batted with great application and concentration during the last session to finish the day 78 behind West Indies with seven wickets in hand. Flower, who completed his half-century off 119 deliveries, has so far faced a total of 130 balls and hit seven fours, the best being stroked fluently through the off side. Gripper proved a staunch ally for his captain, playing a more painstaking innings that occupied 166 balls and included four fours. The fourth-wicket pair enabled Zimbabwe to end the day as encouragingly as they had started it.

Paceman Heath Streak soon removed Sherwin Campbell (24) and nightwatchman Ambrose (7) in the morning before debutant leg-spinner Brian Murphy broke a threatening sixth-wicket stand of 34 between Jimmy Adams and Wavell Hinds when he had the West Indies captain lbw for 17. Murphy also removed wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs for 10 by holding a stinging return catch, after which only Hinds offered significant resistance.

Hinds, one of seven left-handers in the West Indies side, was unbeaten with 46 in his first test, having faced 117 balls and hit seven fours. Murphy finished with three for 32 off 13.4 overs and Streak ended with four for 45 in 24 overs.

Scoreboard

West Indies (1st innings; overnight 79-3): A Griffith lbw b Streak 0, S.Campbell lbw b Streak 24, C Gayle run out 33, S Chanderpaul c A Flower b Olonga 12, C Ambrose c A Flower b Streak 7, J Adams lbw b Murphy 17, W Hinds not out 46, R Jacobs c & b Murphy 10, F Rose b Johnson 1, R King lbw b Streak 2, C Walsh lbw b Murphy 11; Extras: (b7, lb6, nb11) 24. Total (all out in 80.4 overs) 187
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-48, 3-72, 4-81, 5-87, 6-121, 7-136, 8-149, 9-161

Bowling: Streak 24-9-45-4, Olonga 18-7-44-1, Mbangwa 10-3-21-0, Johnson 13-4-26-1, Murphy 13.4-7-32-3, G Flower 2-0-6-0

Zimbabwe (1st innings): N Johnson lbw b Ambrose 0, G Flower c Campbell b Walsh 0, T Gripper batting 31, M Goodwin c Gayle b Walsh 20, A Flower batting 52; Extras: (w1, nb5) 6. Total (for three wickets in 55 overs) 109
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-27

To bat: A Campbell, S Carlisle, B Murphy, H Streak, H Olonga, M Mbangwa

Bowling: Ambrose 14-8-20-1, Walsh 12-4-17-2, Rose 11-5-28-0, King 8-2-26-0, Gayle 10-1-18-0.