Gudakesh Motie’s seven-fer helps West Indies take Day 1 honours
Raymon Reifer plays a shot on Day 1 (Twitter)
Hosts Zimbabwe kneeled before young West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie on the opening day of their second Test match in Bulawayo. The cricketer claimed seven wickets to mark his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests, thus continuing his golden run with the ball this tour.
Zimbabwe shot out within two sessions while WI achieve easy lead
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine won the toss and opted to bat first. His opener Tanunurwa Makoni fell for a 24-ball duck, while Innocent Kaia unfurled the knock of the innings with a mere 38.
Following Kaia’s dismissal, only skipper Ervine and pacer Donald Tiripano scored in the 20s as the rest of the batting line-up crumbled before West Indies’ young spinner Gudakesh Motie. The 27-year-old claimed seven wickets in the Zimbabwean innings, and conceded just 37 runs from his 14.5 overs.
List of records Motie achieved through his 7-37
Jason Holder also bagged two wickets from his end as Zimbabwe collapsed to just 115 in less than 41 overs.
Even though West Indies lost opener and captain Kraigg Brathwaite cheaply, they managed to gain a healthy lead with wickets in hand by stumps on Day 1. Number three batter Raymon Reifer secured 53 runs with the bat and looked well settled before a needless mix-up with his partner ended his stay at the crease.
Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase safely negotiated the remaining few overs after Jermaine Blackwood’s dismissal as West Indies finished the day at 133-4, i.e., 18 runs clear of Zimbabwe’s effort. Both Mayers and Chase will resume the visitors’ response on Day 2, while batting on 8* and 5* respectively.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe: 115 (40.5)
Innocent Kaia 38 (52), Donald Tiripano 23* (56)
Gudakesh Motie 7-37, Jason Holder 2-18
West Indies: 133-4 (41)
Raymon Reifer 53 (86), Tagenarine Chanderpaul 36 (77)
Brandon Mavuta 2-24, Wellington Masakadza 1-32
West Indies lead by 18 runs
 "Aakash Saini")
