Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
NOTTINGHAM – ZIMBABWE ended the first day of the Rothesay Test Match strongly despite hosts England putting on a mammoth 498/3 At Trent in Nottingham.
The eagerly anticipated test match finally arrived with Zimbabwe winning the toss and putting in hosts to bat a decision which back fired.
England openers Zac Crawley and Ben Duckett were largely untroubled and raced to a century opening partnership in no time.
Spinner Wessly is provided the breakthrough in the second session getting Ben Duckett caught for 140 bringing Ollie Pope to the crease.
The breakthrough instead of bringing a respite pulled on more misery as Pope came in aggressive hitting a century along the way despite Sikander Raza getting the wicket of Crawley for 123.
In the final session Zimbabwe started to find their lengths and Blessing Muzarabani bagged the wicket of Joe Root for 34 as Zimbabwe finished strongly.
The hosts are evidently ahead however the Chevrons will be happy with their final session heroics and will be looking for more of that in day two.
The historic test match, the first between the two nations continues this Friday with day two’s action.
