The Caymanian Compass - Tuesday, March 28th, 2000
Reason to Cheer!
The West Indies continue to show new life as Adams and Rose battle to avoid stranglehold by Zimbabwe
Jamaica (AP) Captain Jimmy Adams and fellow Jamaican Franklyn Rose shared a rousing unbroken eighth wicket stand of 124 to delight a frenzied crowd of 12,000 and lift the West Indies out of peril against Zimbabwe Sunday.
The pair took the home team to 295 for seven during the third day of the second Cable & Wireless cricket Test against Zimbabwe in Kingston, Jamaica.
Adams, in his 41st Test and second as skipper, was undefeated on 87 in just over seven hours. The 32 year old emerged from a defensive shell to stroke five boundaries off his 322 deliveries.
The 28 year old Rose, a star with the ball in the West Indies' stunning come-from-behind win in the first Test, notched his maiden Test half century in his 15th Test. The powerfully built Rose lashed nine fours in his 53 not out off 152 balls in 206 minutes.
The pair loosened the stranglehold the visitors had begun as the West Indies slumped from its overnight 106 for four to 171 for seven a half-hour after lunch.
The Zimbabwean bowlers, again missing ace fast bowler Heath Streak due to ligament damage in his back, maintained a tight line and length, and the West Indies could not break the shackles.
Wavell Hinds added just two in 45 minutes before he edged a rare attacking stroke off leg-spinner Brian Murphy and provided a catch to Alistair Campbell at first slip.
Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs tried to lift the tempo as he compiled 27 off 59 balls with three fours. The Antiguan left-hander shared a stand of 39 with his captain before falling to the first ball after lunch at 161 for six.
Jacobs, trying to hook a bouncer from Henry Olonga, under-edged a catch down the leg side where wicket-keeper Andy Flower snared a fine, one-handed catch.
Curtly Ambrose, the last of seven left-handers in the West Indies' top eight, was soon despatched by Neil Johnson, edging to second slip.
All the while, Adams watched from the other end, himself becalmed by the accurate Zimbabweans.
Rose and Adams slowly rebuilt the innings, sensibly gathering the runs with a combination of well-taken singles and aggressive strokes, mainly from Rose.
Adams offered one difficult chance early in the partnership, let off when 35 by a diving Neil Johnson at the second slip off left-armer Bryan Strang.
But the skipper put that behind him and his second boundary brought up his half century off 208 balls in 268 minutes. By close, he had blossomed to be 13 runs away from his sixth Test century.
Adams has not reached three figures since his best of 208 not out against New Zealand in Antigua four years agao, a span of 16 Tests and 28 innings.
Rose's second first-class century came off 137 balls with his ninth four a lofted hit over midwicket off the expensive Murphy.
Murphy took two for 99 off 36 overs while Olonga captured two for 58 off 29 overs. Johnson took two for 56 off 29 overs.
By close, which came one over early because of bad light, Adams and Rose had equalled the record eighth wicket stand for the West Indies in all Test cricket. Sir Viv Richards and Keith Boyce also added 124 against India in Delhi in 1974 and 1975.