A miracle in Port of Spain

The first test between the West Indies and Zimbabwe in Port of Spain was indeed a miracle. The West Indies entered the test with renewed optimism as they now had a new manager, coach and captain at he helm. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, were playing their first ever test match in the West Indies and hoped to gain some respect by taking advantage of the West Indies' vulnerable position.

Zimbabwean captain, Andy Flower won the toss and made an interesting decision to take the field. Trinidad had not prepared the best wickets in recent history and batting fourth on the Queen's Park pitch was not going to be easy but it did not effect Flower's decision. Initially, Flower's decision looked well calculated as Adrian Griffith (0) fell LBW to the third ball of the morning. Campbell (24) and debutante, Chris Gayle (33) were able to push the score up to 48 but not before Gayle was dropped for just 6.

Wickets, however, fell at regular intervals. Newly appointed captain, Jimmy Adams (17) scratched around for an extended period of time and the other debutante, Wavell Hinds looked solid as he compiled (48 not out). Hinds' patient knock finally ended when he ran out of partners and the iinings closed at 187 all out. Zimbabwean pacer, Heath Streak, took the bowling honours as he claimed a tidy 4 for 45 and new-comer, Brian Murphy spun his way to three wickets.

Zimbabwe's innings could not have started worse. Ambrose and Walsh were up to their old tricks again and before a run was scored Neil Johnson and Grant Flower were back in the pavilion. After Murray Goodwin quickly departed for 20, Trevor Gripper (41) and Andy Flower (113 not out) accumulated the largest partnership of the match of 117. Both batsmen rode their luck as Flower was adjudged not out to a delivery that clearly was caught of his glove before he even scored and Gripper edged and pushed his way while facing 219 deliveries.

The support bowlers of Rose and King, however, looked very ordinary and caused Flower no problems as he eased his way to his sixth test hundred. The tail and provided little resistance as Ambrose finished with 4 for 42 and Gayle claimed three late scalps. Zimbabwe were eventually dismissed for 236, a respectable 49 run lead. The West Indies second innings never got underway. Griffith and Gayle were dismissed before any runs were scored and after Campbell was unluckily run out by the forward short leg, the West Indies future looked bleak. Chanderpaul (49) and Adams (27), however, fought on.

It was not easy as the Zimbabwean bowlers stuck tot heir task on a difficult pitch and the fielding was magnificent. Both batsmen eventually got bogged down and when Adams was dismissed, caught at square cover, Chanderpaul followed quickly. There was not much more resistance as Streak claimed 5 for 23 taking his match tally to nine wickets and the West Indies were pushed right back for 147, leaving Zimbabwe just 99 to score for victory. On the fifth and final morning when Grant Flower and Neil Johnson walked to the crease they hoped to seal a memorable victory.

Instead it was to be a memorable victory for the West Indies. Zimbabwe were dismissed for just 63 from 47 overs with Grant Flower top scoring with 26 from three and a half hours of grueling concentration. This time around, Rose (4 for 19) and King (1 for 11) bowled tirelessly with continued pace and venom. Ambrose (3 for 8) and Walsh (2 for 18) were spectacular as Zimbabwe could do nothing but crumble. It was a victory pulled from the deepest and most viscous jaws of defeat.

West Indies fought back admirably and although their batting struggled throughout the match the West Indies never threw away their wickets. They toiled hard to find the confidence they lack against a very disciplined bowling attack. The Queen's Park grounds-staff also did not produce the greatest of pitches, a factor, which contributed to 28 individual scores under 10 in the match. The West Indies, however, move on to the second test in Jamaica which starts this Friday.