Bishoo spins Windies to victory in first Test

Zimbabwe came into the two-match Test series in a buoyant mood following the return of its prodigal sons Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis, but Devendra Bishoo pierced through its hopes with a four-wicket haul to guide Windies to a 117-run victory in the first Test at the Queens Sports Club on Tuesday (October 24).

The 31-year-old legspinner returned with 4 for 105 to overpower Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire and Brendan Taylor's fighting knocks after Windies was bowled out for 373 in its second innings, setting up a massive target of 434. Zimbabwe managed only 316 after battling for over 90 overs.

Resuming the fourth day at 369 for 8, the visiting side could only manage to add four runs to its overnight score as it lost its remaining wickets inside 21 deliveries. Graeme Cremer (4 for 114), the Zimbabwe skipper, picked up his eighth wicket of the match when he bowled Kemar Roach (0) with the first ball of the day, before Sean Williams (3 for 91) denied Roston Chase a century when he bowled him for 95.

With a mountain to climb, Masakadza and Mire got the home side off to a solid start with a 99-run opening stand. Having battled out for 27.2 overs, Masakadza finally fell for 57 - his first half-century in almost three years - off Kraigg Brathwaite's bowling. His partner Mire (47) was then undone by some sharp reverse swing from Roach, who finished with 1 for 34.

Brendan Taylor and Ervine (18) were able to absorb the pressure for a while before the latter became Bishoo's first victim. The legspinner also hunted for Sean Williams, who only managed 6, to reduce Zimbabwe to 155 for 4.

Taylor, who was fighting a lone battle at the other end, finally found an ally in the form of Sikandar Raza. The two dug their heels for 119 deliveries to form a 64-run partnership for the fifth wicket. The stand was finally broken in the 67th over when Bishoo sent back Raza for 30.

Malcolm Waller (11) and Regis Chakabva (1), the wicketkeeper-batsman, didn't survive for long as Zimbabwe lost four wickets for just 17 runs. Among them was also Taylor, who smacked eight fours en route a 151-ball 73 before getting run out.

The last pair of Jarvis (23*) and Chris Mpofu (33) managed to delay the inevitable for a while with a 54-run stay before the latter became Chase's (2 for 61) second prey.

Earlier, in the first essay, Bishoo had come to Windies' rescue after it was bowled out for 219 in its first innings. His 5 for 79 helped the Jason Holder-led team dismiss Zimbabwe for 159 and claim an important 60-run lead.

The second and final Test gets underway at the same venue on Sunday.