West Indies 447 for 6 dec and 21 for 0 (Brathwaite 11*, Chanderpaul 10*) lead Zimbabwe 379 for 9 dec (Ballance 137*, Kaia 67, Mavuta 53, Joseph 3-75) by 89 runs
Ballance, who played 23 Tests for England and scored four centuries previously, was the rock that held Zimbabwe’s innings together after their solid opening stand on the third day. He was largely untroubled, hitting 12 fours and two sixes in his 231-ball innings, as he put on significant partnerships with the lower-order batters, after initially losing partners in quick succession.
At this point, Zimbabwe still needed 56 runs to avoid the follow-on, with just three wickets in hand. West Indies, with the second new ball due after another 15 balls, had their tails up.
But Ballance and Mavuta walked out after lunch and dominated the second session. The two added 121 runs in the session to help Zimbabwe get into a position from where it would be difficult to lose the game.
Mavuta, who recorded his maiden five-wicket haul in the Test, brought up his half-century with a drive to sweeper cover in the final session of the day. He was solid in defence after that, but did not take many risks until a short ball from Holder stayed low to clatter into his stumps.
Mavuta contributed 53 runs to the 135 that he added with Ballance for the eighth wicket.
Zimbabwe decided then that it was no use hanging about and took the aggressive route. Victor Nyauchi hit a first-ball four through covers and thrashed another cover drive and a cut through point before top-edging a pull to Joshua Da Silva off Holder.
Ballance also brought out the slog-sweep with more regularity, and was even dropped at deep midwicket, while Richard Ngarava, Zimbabwe’s No. 11, hit a couple of gorgeous lofted straight drives – for a four and a six.
Zimbabwe were still trailing by 68 when they declared, giving the bowlers 13 overs in the day to have a go at West Indies’ top order.