2nd Test, Bulawayo, February 12, 2023, 01:30 PM
Zimbabwe
115/10(40.5ov) & 173/10(47.3ov)
West Indies
292/10(92.3ov)
West Indies beat Zimbabwe by an innings and 4 runs
Right then, Kraigg Brathwaite collects the trophy for winning the series 1-0 and the whole team gets together for a team photograph. The celebrations continue in the Windies camp but for now, that is it from our side for this game and this series as well. West Indies will now shift their focus to the South African tour starting on the 28th of February with a two-game Test series. As for Zimbabwe, they have a bit of a breather before getting back to white-ball cricket. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Until next time, take care and goodbye!
The West Indies skipper, Kraigg Brathwaite says that he is very proud of the outcome. Adds they had a plan coming into this Test match and it came out really well. Informs that it was good to see the bowlers get 10 wickets today. Adds Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph added the pressure really well for Gudakesh Motie to express himself better. Mentions they just need to keep moving in the right direction from here. Ends by saying that they need to be even sharper for their upcoming series against the Proteas.
Gudakesh Motie is the Player of the Match and also the Player of the Series for his total tally of 19 wickets across the two games (13 for 99 in this game). Motie says that he is very happy about his performance and reckons that he worked hard for it. Says that he had a lot of practice coming into the series and says the wickets here were similar to those back home.
Craig Ervine, the captain of Zimbabwe is in for a chat. He says that after winning the toss, they needed to bat well but that did not go as per their plan. Informs that they were put on the back foot from the get-go. Adds that he hopes they prepared really well for this series. Mentions the batters have been really well and Victor Nyauchi has been incredible in this Test match. Mentions they will shift their focus on a domestic tournament and later get in the groove for the series against the Netherlands.
The Presentation ceremony...
Let's do a quick recap of what happened in the game. Craig Ervine won the toss and opted to bat first on a track that had something to offer for the spinners right from the start. Gudakesh Motie ran riot through the Zimbabwean batting order and picked up 7 wickets as the hosts were bowled out on the first day itself for just 115 runs. Once again, Innocent Kaia looked good at the top and scored 38 runs but no one else did enough to help the scoreboard. Day 1 saw West Indies lose a few wickets as well but Raymon Reifer scored a half-century and put them in command. On a rain-hit second day of the Test, West Indies struggled a bit but an 85-run stand between Joshua Da Silva and Roston Chase made sure that the visitors had a sizeable first-innings lead. Victor Nyauchi and Brandon Mavuta bowled well for the hosts with the former picking up a maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket as well. West Indies got bundled out early on Day 3 which started two hours later than the scheduled time due to a wet outfield but the visitors were able to bowl out Zimbabwe once again before the day ended thanks to another sublime performance with the ball by Gudakesh Motie.
West Indies are absolutely elated and rightly so because an innings victory is always special. They had the overnight lead of 175 runs but could only add 2 runs to it but this proved to be just enough for their bowlers to work their magic and ensure that the Windies didn't need to bat again. Once again, Gudakesh Motie was the pick of the bunch as he picked up 6 wickets to go with his 7 wickets in the first innings, a total of 13 wickets in the game, absolutely impressive from him. The likes of Alzarri Joseph, Shannon Gabriel, Roston Chase and Jason Holder all got one wicket each and they never really let the opposition have a breather. An all-round top-class bowling effort and they have won the series here.
Zimbabwe went into the Tea interval having 3 wickets in hand and trailing by 19 runs. They came out and played their shots but this offered the opposition bowlers chances. Brandon Mavuta was the first to be dismissed after the interval as he was caught at short leg and after this skipper, Craig Ervine and Victor Nyauchi both fell in the very next over. Zimbabwe were outplayed and outclassed in this game and they will be a bit disappointed here as they couldn't avoid the innings defeat. Their skipper though showed his class and scored 72 runs, the highest individual score of this game but it was never going to be enough.
The frustration and misery of the first Test match have turned into pure joy for West Indies as they seal a big win here by an inning and 4 runs. The Windies also seal the two-game Test series 1-0!
In over# 48
0W
3
0W
Gudakesh Motie 62/6(17.3)
47.3
W
OUT! STUMPED! Victor Nyauchi is undone by the turn here. Who else, it is Gudakesh Motie who puts the final nail in the coffin. A fitting end to this enticing Test match. This is looped up, angled in on off. Victor Nyauchi dances down the track and tries to heave it away but misses. The ball drips and turns away sharply. Joshua Da Silva pouches the ball and is quick to get rid of the bails. Victor Nyauchi is way out of the crease. West Indies win the Test match by an innings and four runs.
47.2
3
This is full, sliding down leg. Tanaka Chivanga sweeps it to fine leg. The batters take three runs. They trail by 4 runs now.
Tanaka Chivanga is the last man in for Zimbabwe.
47.1
W
OUT! LBW! This is plumb! Gudakesh Motie gets his fifth wicket here. Craig Ervine's valiant knock comes to an end here. It is a shorter delivery, outside off. It grips and turns in sharply. Craig Ervine shuffles and tries to flick it away but misses as he ends up playing all around it. Ervine gets pinged on his pads. Gudakesh Motie appeals and the dreaded finger goes up.
In over# 47
1
1
0
1
1
0W
Roston Chase 30/1(11)
46.6
1
Up and over! Tossed up around off, Craig Ervine plays a checked lofted drive and gets it well over mid off. The ball plugs in the field and Ervine only takes a single in order to retain the strike.
46.5
1
Outside off, Nyauchi pushes it out on the off side and turns the strike over.
46.4
.
Fullish length around middle, Victor Nyauchi looks to flick with the turn but gets an inside edge that goes to the right of the man at short leg.
46.3
1
Flatter one, sliding onto the pads, Craig Ervine gently pushes it toward mid-wicket and picks up a single.