Chase half-century helps West Indies to 175-run lead

Roston Chase made 70 on Monday, as the West Indies built a 175-run lead with two first-innings wickets standing against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on a rain-affected second day of the second Test.

Following a 150-minute stoppage soon after lunch, play resumed only be abandoned for the day after the rain returned.

A severely depleted home side were dismissed for 115 on the opening day and the tourists reached 133 for the loss of four wickets by the close.

An 85-run sixth-wicket partnership between Chase and Joshua Da Silva helped the West Indies reach 290 for the loss of eight wickets with three days remaining.

Further interruptions are possible, however, with rain forecast for the rest of the week in the southwestern city.

Chase faced 131 balls, hitting one six and four fours, before a full-length Vincent Nyauchi delivery squeezed between bat and pad and uprooted the middle stump.

Wicketkeeper Da Silva struck five fours in his 44 before becoming another victim of quickie Nyauchi, who clean bowled him.

Nyauchi and leg spinner Brandon Mavuta shared the bowling honours with three wickets each at the Queens Sports Club.

Migraine headaches ruled out star Zimbabwe batter Gary Ballance and injuries sidelined captain and all-rounder Sean Williams and fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chatara.

The home team are also without prolific run-getter Sikandar Raza and all-rounder Ryan Burl, who were released to play franchise cricket in the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh respectively.

Zimbabwe and the West Indies drew the rain-affected first of two Tests in the fourth series between them in southern Africa with the visitors winning the previous three.