Zimbabwe weather early Roach storm

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Fast bowler Kemar Roach claimed two early wickets but Zimbabwe weathered the early storm in progressing to 91 for two at lunch on the opening day of the first test against the West Indies at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Tuesday.

Obdurate opening batsman Tino Mawoyo (45) was in partnership with his captain, Brendan Taylor (12), at the interval.

Taylor's decision to bat first on winning the toss appeared a bold one given Zimbabwe's lack of recent Test exposure and the fact that the West Indies went into the match with three frontline pacers.

Of the trio, Roach proved the most effective, although Tino Best should have had Vusi Sibanda caught at third slip by Darren Bravo when he was on four.

However, the opener did not make the most of the reprieve, losing his leg-stump to a full delivery from Roach when he was on 12.

The diminutive fast bowler returned for a second spell to break a 42-run second-wicket partnership between Mawoyo and Hamilton Masakadza, Marlon Samuels taking a superb catch at gully to remove Masakadza for 17.

Mawoyo emerged from his shell during the second hour and has struck seven boundaries in his innings so far. (AFP)