Dowrich, Holder flatten Zimbabwe with mammoth stand

Both Shane Dowrich and Jason Holder got to their well-deserved centuries as their 212-run stand flattened Zimbabwe in the second Test in Bulawayo. Windies ended with 448 all out, with an overall lead of 122, at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday (November 1). In response, Zimbabwe were 8 for 2 at Lunch.

Windies were reeling at 230 for 7 when Dowrich and Holder got together to resurrect the innings with a record stand. From trying to save the Test, they did exceptionally well to put Windies in a position from where they can now push for a win. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, will rue their horrendous Decision Review System calls and the numerous grassed catches.

Windies started the day on 374 for 7, with a lead of lead of 48. The Windies duo looked at ease and continued to propel the team forward. Searching for wickets, Zimbabwe turned to the new ball soon after the partnership crossed the 150-run mark. But that only accelerated run flow.

Holder was dropped by Regis Chakabva, the 'keeper, in the 156th over when he was on 78. Holder continued to milk the runs and reached his century with a magnificent cover drive in the 171th over. The Windies captain couldn't have picked up a better time to score his second Test ton and put Zimbabwe in a position where they'll be looking to save the Test instead of squaring the series.

Dowrich too followed suit soon after, hammering Graeme Cremer over mid-off to get to his maiden Test ton. The last time the number eight and nine batsmen scored century was in 1908 against England, when Australia's Roger Hartigan and Clem Hill became the first pair to achieve the feat, in Adelaide.

With the partnership over 200 and the lead past 100, Windies were all set to launch an onslaught and stretch their lead. However, Zimbabwe fought back with quick wickets. Tendai Chisoro first trapped Dowrich lbw for 103 and then had Holder out bowled round the legs for 110. Windies were 443 for 9 at that stage with an overall lead of 117. Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach then frustrated the hosts for a bit before Chisoro picked up his third wicket to end the innings.

Kemar Roach then knocked over Hamilton Masakadza with just five on the board. The opener shouldered arms to a delivery that came in and has his stumps rattled. Solomon Mire showed poor judgement in the last over before the break when he reviewed a straightforward lbw decision. He swiped a length ball from Roach and was pinged in front with the ball crashing into the leg stump.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 326 and 8/2 (Kemar Roach 2-1) trail Windies448 (Jason Holder 110, Shane Dowrich 103, Kieran Powell 90; Sikandar Raza 5-99) by 114 runs