Zimbabwe enjoyed a productive opening day of the first Test against West Indies, skittling the tourist for 219 despite Shai Hope's impressive 90 not out in Bulawayo.
Hope announced himself with centuries in each innings of the West Indies' thrilling win over England at Headingley in August and, although he was able to replicate that fine display, his colleagues wilted around him, spinners Graeme Cremer (4 for 64) and Sean Williams (3 for 20) doing the damage.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The host was batting by the end of the day, reaching stumps at 19 for 0 having laid the foundations for a first Test win over the Windies.
Hope and Kieran Powell seemed to have moved the tourist into a position of strength, sharing 75 for the third wicket to help ease the pressure created by two early wickets.
Sharp collapse
Powell registered his first fifty in 30 innings before a redemptive knock was ended on 56 when Craig Ervine displayed neat anticipation to move and snaffle a sharp catch at short leg off Cremer. Roston Chase (31) provided Hope with able assistance, but his dismissal prompted an almighty collapse from 174 for 4 to 219 all out.
Williams snared the wickets of Shane Dowrich (11), Jason Holder (8) and Devendra Bishoo (0) in a four-over spell which went for just two runs, while Cremer made light work of the Windies tail to put the host in the ascendancy.
Test debutant Soloman Mire (17 not out) scored all of Zimbabwe's runs off the bat before the close, including a six in the last over, alongside a decidedly more stubborn Hamilton Masakadza.
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