HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Left-arm spinner Ray Price picked up three wickets as Zimbabwe took control on the third day of the first Test against West Indies yesterday.
When bad light ended play seven overs early, Price had claimed three for 39 and West Indies had stumbled to 241 for six in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings of 507 for nine declared.
West Indies had consolidated after Wavell Hinds threw away the chance of a century and Brian Lara fell cheaply, but the visitors then lost three wickets for just 29 runs in the final session to give Zimbabwe the advantage.
Hinds scored an aggressive 79 and Daren Ganga made a patient 73 but, by the close, West Indies still trailed their hosts by 266 with four first-innings wickets in hand.
However West Indies captain Lara, who was dismissed for 29, was confident his side could save the follow-on.
``I believe Shivnarine Chanderpaul (19 not out) and the guys can rally and get us past that,'' he told Reuters. ``The game takes on a different complexion after that.
``We're in a tricky situation, but Chanderpaul is in good form and I believe we're going to get the runs to at least take the field again and have a go at them with the ball.''
Hinds and Ganga had added 72 in a brisk partnership for the second wicket before Hinds, facing medium pacer Blessing Mahwire, lofted a drive weakly to Andy Blignaut at mid-on.
BLAZED BOUNDARIES
Hinds blazed 15 boundaries with an assortment of cuts, pulls and drives in his 95-ball stay.
Lara and Ganga put on 52 for the third wicket but Price ended it when Lara tried to hit him for six and was well held on the long-on boundary by Mahwire.
Shortly after tea, Price trapped Ramnaresh Sarwan leg-before-wicket for nine and nine balls later Ganga was bowled by Mahwire as he pushed forward defensively, the ball bouncing upwards before ricocheting from his elbow on to the stumps.
Ganga had struck 14 fours in a little more than three hours at the crease.
Ridley Jacobs was the last to go, caught by Mark Vermeulen at silly point for five as he prodded forward to Price.
``It's good to be bowling against lesser mortals,'' Price told Reuters, adding that he had relished bowling against opponents other than Australia, who beat Zimbabwe at home in two Tests last month.
Australia opener Matthew Hayden scored 380 in the first Test in Perth to break Lara's record of 375 for the highest Test score.
``After bowling against the world champions, I'm just enjoying myself,'' Price said. ``Normally I try and contain a lot, but I learnt a hell of a lot in Australia -- to be more myself and to enjoy my bowling.''
UNUSUAL DELAY
The start to the third day had been delayed for two hours after a ball being used by Zimbabwe during a warm-up rolled on to the pitch and under the wheels of a roller preparing the wicket.
The incident caused an indentation in line with leg stump and on a length.
Umpires Simon Taufel and Billy Bowden delayed the start while groundstaff carried out repairs. Play was further delayed for 15 minutes by rain.
``We had to get the match going,'' Lara said. ``Something as small and as freakish as that should not interfere with a cricket game.
``I thought the groundstaff went about it very professionally, and as we saw that it played no part in the game.''