Test report
Two-Test series Zimbabwe v West Indies
Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich struck centuries in the second Test to stem Zimbabwe’s charge
Zimbabwe lose pitch battle
Tactics backfire as West Indies raise their game to negate slow Bulawayo surfaces, reports John Ward Zimbabwe’s first home series for a year, against West Indies, aroused much enthusiasm within the country. The home team had shown greatly improved form in their solitary Test match of the year to date, when they came close to beating Sri Lanka at Colombo, and now they had just been strengthened by the return of three former ‘exiles’ in Brendan Taylor, Kyle Jarvis and Solomon Mire.
Hopes were great that, on their home soil, Zimbabwe could record a maiden Test victory over West Indies. The Zimbabwe team coach, former national captain Heath Streak, made no secret of their intention to make full use of home advantage. “We’re trying to make the wicket suit our strengths and that’s part and parcel of playing at home,” he was quoted as saying at the start of the series.