Jason Holder struck his second hundred in Test cricket
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
The West Indies are six wickets away from completing a series whitewash, but prior to taking four quick wickets, captain Jason Holder and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich starred with the best as they made career-best scores of 110 and 103 respectively.
While Zimbabwe endured an early collapse, all-rounder Sikandar Raza deserves some credit as he stabilised the innings with his unbeaten knock of 58.
Starting off the day on 374/7, Holder and Dowrich converted their 144-run partnership into a 212-run stand, during which both batsmen brought up their hundreds.
Shane Dowrich scored his maiden Test century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
With the West Indies’ lead beginning to swell, Zimbabwe were in desperate need of a wicket. In the end, it was Tendai Chisoro who got the breakthrough for the hosts as he trapped Dowrich lbw for 103, which came off 232 balls and included 10 boundaries and a six.
Dowrich opted to review the decision, but it went in vain as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit leg stump.
Chisoro struck again in his next over as he clean bowled Holder for 110, which came off 198 deliveries and included nine boundaries and two sixes.
The West Indies were bowled out for 448, which gave them a 122-run lead, when Kemar Roach was given out lbw off the bowling of Chisoro for a duck.
Raza was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Chisoro snapped up three, and Chris Mpofu and skipper Graeme Cremer claimed one wicket each.
Trailing by 122 runs, Zimbabwe lost opener Hamilton Masakadza in the fourth over as he was cleaned up by Roach for five runs.
Roach got his second wicket in his next over as he trapped Solomon Mire lbw for a duck.
Brendan Taylor, who scored 10 runs, suffered the same fate as Mire, but only off the bowling of Shannon Gabriel, while Craig Ervine made 22 before having his stumps rattled by Devendra Bishoo.
With Zimbabwe reeling at 46/4, Raza and Peter Moor came to the rescue as they amassed an unbeaten 94-run partnership before stumps was called.
Raza finished on 58 off 137 balls, which included five boundaries and a six, while Moor remained undefeated on 39 off 152 deliveries, which included two boundaries.
Roach was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Gabriel and Bishoo chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Zimbabwe ended day four on 140/4 and will continue batting on Thursday at 09:30 local time or 07:30 GMT.