Lara keeps Windies on top

Lara, who had faced 75 balls and hit 11 fours, and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was on 32, shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 92.

The visitors needed Lara’s assurance after left-arm spinner Ray Price, who claimed match figures of 10 for 162 in the drawn first Test in Harare, snapped up two wickets after lunch. Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds made the most of the ideal batting conditions to score 57 runs in the 14 overs before the drinks break midway through the first session.

The Zimbabwean bowlers obtained minimal but slow movement off the seam and they were offered no swing through the air.

Pacemen Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut and Blessing Mahwire bowled 18 overs between them without making an impression before Price was brought into the attack.

Price, though, also struggled to trouble the batsmen initially and in his third over Hinds hit him for a straight six and a four off consecutive deliveries.