BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (CMC) — Roston Chase got some of his groove back with a resolute half-century but an attempt by West Indies to forge ahead against Zimbabwe in the second Test on Monday was again thwarted by their opponents’ tenacity and fickle weather.

Chase has top-scored so far for the Windies with 70, and when rain stopped play for the second time — about 45 minutes before the scheduled close on the second day at Queens Sports Club — the Caribbean side were 290 for eight, a first-innings lead of 165.

The Barbadian all-rounder shared successive half-century stands with compatriot Kyle Mayers and wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua da Silva to fortify the Caribbean side’s grip on the match.

Da Silva scored 44 and Mayers made 30, but they were two of four wickets that West Indies conceded during the 49.4 overs of play that were possible on the day.

Pacer Victor Nyauchi ended play with 3-56 from 16.4 overs, and leg-spinner Brandon Mavuta supported with 3-73 from 24 overs — both the personification of the Zimbabweans displayed with purposeful bowling.

This was the highest of the four half-centuries Chase has scored since his unbeaten 102 in a losing cause against England three years ago at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia.

For a period of time last year he had lost his place in the Test side but the selection panel felt anyone with five Test hundreds and the ability to bowl steady off-spin was worth the punt, and he regained his place in recent months.

Chase spent almost four hours at the crease and struck only four fours and one six from 132 balls, in an effort to consolidate the hold the visitors have on the match, before he drove at a delivery from Nyauchi that moved back and was bowled in the fifth over with the second new ball.

“Obviously I was looking for a century but I thought my mindset was still in an old-ball mindset and the new ball tends to do a bit more, so I thought it was a bit disappointing on my end. But, it was a good delivery from the bowler and credit must go to him,” he told reporters after play.

“I was a bit disappointed not being able to convert to a hundred but I was happy that I was still able to get a decent score… It’s always a good feeling to get a good score. I didn’t get much in the last game because I was in a position where I had to come out and look for runs right away — that’s out of my game plan and strategy.

“But, [for] this game I really had the opportunity to go out there and play my natural game, and play to my strengths.”

Chase said he hoped the Windies could extend their lead well past 200, which will put them in a far better position to try to force a win over the remaining three days, weather permitting.

“I am happy with the position that we are in but it could be better,” he said. “We are still leading the game, and I feel if we can carry the total up to 350 that would give us a significant lead and it will be enough to bowl out Zimbabwe in the second innings.

“I do not think we will need as much time [to get a result] because the pitch is offering a lot more to the bowlers and I think it will be in a position where we can prise out the batsmen a little easier, so I think we should still be positioned for a win in this game.”

Former West Indies Captain Jason Holder, not out on three, will carry the bulk of the responsibility for scoring on the third day but tailender Gudakesh Motie, not out on 11, has proven that he is no mug with the bat when playing for Guyana Harpy Eagles in the West Indies Championship.

The two-Test series is level 0-0, after the first Test that ended last Wednesday at the same venue was drawn.

SCOREBOARD

Zimbabwe 1st Innings 115

West Indies 1st Innings (overnight 133 for four)

*K Brathwaite lbw b Masakadza 7

T Chanderpaul c Tiripano b Mavuta 36

R Reifer run out 53

J Blackwood c Nyauchi b Mavuta 22

K Mayers c Masakadza b Mavuta 30

R Chase b Nyauchi 70

+J Da Silva b Nyauchi 44

J Holder not out 3

A Joseph c Makoni b Nyauchi 4

G Motie not out 11

Extras (lb3, w2, nb5) 10

Total (8 wkts, 90.4 overs) 290

To bat: S Gabriel

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-86, 3-117, 4-124, 5-184,

6-269, 7-270, 8-274

Bowling: Nyauchi 16.4-1-56-3; Masakadza 20-5-58-

1; Chivanga 13-0-57-0 (w1, nb4); Tiripano 13-2-26-

0 (w1, nb1); Mavuta 24-3-73-3; Shumba 4-0-17-0

Position: West Indies lead by 175 runs with two

wickets intact.

Toss: Zimbabwe

Umpires: L Rusere, P Reiffel; TV – I Chabi