Andy Flower blossoms under trying conditions

PORT-OF-SPAIN, MARCH 18. Captain Andy Flower got a gift from umpire Steve Bucknor before he had a run on the board and proceeded to lead a Zimbabwe recovery on the second day of the first Test against the West Indies.

Flower scored a half-century at Queen's Park Oval late on Friday after television replays clearly showed he had gloved the first ball after tea from fast bowler Courtney Walsh down the leg-side for wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs to complete a catch. Bucknor, arguably the best umpire in the world, ruled him not out.

An 82-run stand between Andy Flower, unbeaten on 52, and Trevor Gripper, 31 not out, lifted Zimbabwe to 109 for three at the close in reply to the West Indies' first innings total of 187.

On 18, Flower cut hard at a short-of-a-length ball from fast bowler Reon King, but Jimmy Adams, the West Indies captain, leaping at gully, could only parry the ball into the third-man boundary for four.

On 48, an edge peeled off to third slip where diving substitute Ricardo Powell got his finger-tips singed but couldn't hold the ball.

Walsh and his new-ball partner Curtly Ambrose earlier had the Zimbabwe innings in trouble when they claimed three wickets before tea.

The home side enjoyed immediate success when left- hander Neil Johnson was adjudged lbw to the first ball of the innings, from Ambrose, for nought. It was the 36-year-old Antiguan's 60th wicket at Queen's Park Oval and his 370th in 89 Tests.

Grant Flower, brother of the Zimbabwe captain, was caught at second slip by Sherwin Campbell with the last ball of the next over from Walsh, also for nought.

For about three-quarters-of-an-hour, Gripper and Murray Goodwin settled things down for the Zimbabweans, but Walsh, nearing the world record for the most wickets in Tests held by India's Kapil Dev, moved a step closer.

Goodwin, untroubled in his time at the wicket, wafted at a good length ball from Walsh to give Chris Gayle a low catch at first slip. He made 20 and became Walsh's 428th victim in 113 Tests.

Andy Flower, striking the ball with crisp assurance, has now batted confidently for just over three hours to strike seven 4s from 130 balls and enhance his side's grip on the match.

The circumspect Gripper has offered him essential support in a four-hour long knock in which he has faced 167 balls and hit three 4s.

Earlier, fast bowler Heath Streak and leg-spin bowler Brian Murphy shared six wickets to bowl the West Indies out about 40 minutes after lunch.

Streak ended with figures of four for 45 off 24 overs and Murphy returned the satisfactory figures of three for 32 off 13.4 overs on his debut.

Wavel Hinds, one of seven who can bat left-handed in the West Indies side, led the way with an attractive, unbeaten 46 in his first Test innings. He batted 167 minutes, faced 117 balls and struck seven 4s.

- AFP

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