Bulawayo: An unbroken partnership of 144 down the order between Shane Dowrich and Jason Holder gave West Indies a 48-run lead over Zimbabwe at stumps on day three of the second test on Tuesday.
West Indies still had three wickets in hand at 374-7 in its first innings, with Dowrich and captain Holder both hitting unbeaten half-centuries in their eighth-wicket stand.
They took West Indies past Zimbabwe's 326 all out, with the chance of building a significant lead on day four.
Dowrich was 75 not out and Holder 71 not out to rescue the West Indies innings after they came together on 230-7. At that point, it appeared the tourists, who are 1-0 up in the two-match series, would have a first-innings deficit to claw back.
Their mid-innings struggles were down to a five-wicket haul from part-time Zimbabwe spinner Sikandar Raza, who cut through the West Indian middle order for his 5-82, his first five-for in tests.
Dowrich and Holder provided late impetus, though, with Dowrich hitting nine fours in a career-best test score for him. Holder struck six fours and a six and the West Indians were in position to increase their 48-run advantage.
A lead of 100-plus would go a long way to securing the series for West Indies, which took advantage of an escape for Holder when he was on 11. He appeared to be out lbw to Raza but Zimbabwe wasn't able to send the umpire's not out decision to DRS because it had used up its reviews.