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Adams, Rose to Windies rescue

West Indian captain Jimmy Adams and tailender Franklyn Rose put on an unbroken, record-equalling, eighth-wicket stand of 124 in Kingston on the third day of the second cricket Test between the West Indies and Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Adams and Rose, who came together when the hosts were struggling at 171 for six, pulled the West Indies, who lead the series 1-0, right back into the match - when bad light stopped play they were 295 for five, replying to Zimbabwe's first innings total of 308.

Before a packed, noisy Sabina Park, Adams, unbeaten on 87, and Rose, not out on a Test career-best of 53, thrilled their compatriots with some lively cricket.

For nearly three-and-a-half hours, Adams and Rose thrilled their compatriots with some lively cricket which equalled the West Indies eighth-wicket stand of 124 between Sir Vivian Richards and the late Keith Boyce against India at Delhi in the 1974-75 series.

Rose brought his usual provocative approach to the wicket and it seemed to influence his captain, who had batted doggedly through from the final hour the previous evening.

Dropped on 35 by Neil Johnson at second slip off Bryan Strang, Adams began to bat a little more attractively and with Rose's brand of "Calypso cricket", things began to happen for West Indies. Adams, eyeing his sixth Test century and first since his unbeaten 208 not out against New Zealand in St. John's, Antigua, four years ago, has batted just over seven hours and faced 263 balls to strike five fours.

All but 17 of Rose's highest Test score were in boundaries. He has faced 152 balls to eclipse his previous highest of 34 against India in Port-of-Spain three years ago.

At the end of the Port-of-Spain Test, Adams had spoken about Test matches being transformed in the short space of one period. He might have recalled his comment at the end of the day which started with the West Indies brittle batting once more cruelly exposed.

Adams and Wavel Hinds started cautiously for West Indies in the first hour of the day, but Hinds was caught at slip by Alistair Campbell off leg-spin bowler Brian Murphy for 14 in the 11th over of the day to leave his side 122 for five.

Ridley Jacobs had been the first to help Adams loosen up in his strokeplay when he brought a fresh approach with him to the wicket. Jacobs's first scoring stroke was a searing straight drive off Murphy for four and he hit two other fours in his 27 off 59 balls which ended after West Indies were 161 for five at lunch.

The Zimbabweans were a little unfortunate though, not to have had Jacobs's wicket with the first ball he faced. Playing forward to a delivery from Murphy, television replays showed the ball ricocheted from pad to glove and into the hands of Johnson at silly-point, but Pakistani umpire Athar Zaidi ruled him not out.

Later, Jacobs was to add injury to insult when he smashed a short-ball from Murphy into the nape of short square-leg Murray Goodwin's neck. The fielder was carried away on a stretcher, was taken to hospital for observation and took no further part in proceedings.

It was the second injury worry for Zimbabwe. Their bowling was sharply weakened by the ailing Heath Streak, who spent the day resting a strained back at the team's hotel.

Zimbabwe finally had Jacobs when he miscued a hook at a short-ball from Johnson and gave a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Andy Flower, the first ball after lunch.

Curtly Ambrose hung around just over half-hour with his captain before he steered a short-of-a-length ball from Johnson to Stuart Carlisle at second slip to leave West Indies innings in strife.

The batting of Adams and Rose, however, left their countrymen uttering a phrase commonly used in Jamaica, "No problem!"