West Indies geared to sweep Zimbabwe

Bulawayo: After a comfortable win in the first Test in Bulawayo, Windies will be brimming with confidence when it locks horns with Zimbabwe in the second Test at the same venue, starting on Sunday.

Zimbabwe was fairly competitive in its first Test with the return of Brendan Taylor, Kyle Jarvis and Solomon Mire.

After a measly one in the first innings, Taylor scored an encouraging 73 in tough situations in his second dig. Jarvis picked up a sum of three wickets in conditions that were more suited to spinners. Mire, making his Test debut, made handy contributions with both bat and ball.

Not only Bishoo, but Graeme Cremer, the Zimbabwe captain, had a say in the game, taking eight wickets with his left-arm spin. The strip is again likely to favour spinners.

Windies had many positives to take from its effort in the first game. Shai Hope, who has been in good form after his historic twin tons against England in Leeds, scored 90 and 44. Along with Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Kyle Hope, Roston Chase and Jermaine Blackwood, he forms a good batting unit.

With the ball, Bishoo was most incisive, but Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach and Jason Holder, the captain, are capable of causing damage of their own.

Zimbabwe did, however, display a far superior batting performance in the second innings. If it manages to deliver consistently over the course of the second game, it might yet be able to produce its first-ever Test victory over Windies.

Teams from

Zimbabwe: Graeme Cremer (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Peter Moor, Regis Chakabva (wk), Michael Chinouya, Christopher Mpofu, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chisoro, Nyasha Mayavo.

West Indies: Jason Holder (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite (vice-capt), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Kyle Hope, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach.

Pitch and conditions
The rain could leave a slow outfield even soggier, while the added moisture will also mean that the ball won't reverse swing quite so easily.

Stats and trivia

• The team winning the toss has won four of the last five Tests played at this ground.
• Devendra Bishoo needs two more scalps to reach 100 Test wickets.

Match facts
October 29 to Novemver 2, 2017
Start time 1000 local (800 GMT)