Following the 10-wicket drubbing in the opening Test, Zimbabwe haven’t lost heart by any means. The hosts have come out with a positive intent in their second match against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club. At the close of the opening day’s play in Harare, the home team is at 352 for the loss of six wickets. Skipper Sean Williams has led from the front, churning out a sparkling century.

Taylor and Williams make hay

After electing to bat first, Zimbabwe lost a couple of early wickets. Even as Lahiru Kumara found Prince Masvaure’s outside-edge, Dhananjaya de Silva nipped out Craig Ervine. Kevin Kasuza and Brendan Taylor restored sanity into proceedings with a 65-run stand. Suranga Lakmal separated the duo, castling Kevin Kasuza’s woodwork. At the other end, veteran Taylor took the attacking route.

He scored a run-a-ball 62 with 10 fours and a six. Lakmal trapped him plumb in front to give Lanka a breather. From there, Williams and Sikandar Raza frustrated the visitors’ bowlers. The duo put forth a partnership of 159 runs for the fifth wicket. Both batters went at a strike-rate in excess of 70 and hardly looked out of sorts. They were looking good to go into Stumps without losing their wicket.

Raza and Williams take over

Raza notched his fifty off 79 balls. His non-striker, Williams accomplished his second Test century off 131 delivery. But then Thunder stroke at the wrong time. Lasith Embuldeniya got rid of Raza, who scored 72. The batsman tried to manufacture a pull shot, but couldn’t get his timing. Angelo Mathews, coming in from the long-on region, look a sharp low catch, tumbling forward.

To add insult to injury, Dhananjaya ripped Williams’ poles apart. The Zimbabwe skipper got 107 with 10 fours and three sixes. He went for a slog sweep and found his stumps go for a toss. Having lost Raza and Williams in quick succession, Zimbabwe were in danger of getting bowled out Regis Chakabva (31*) and Tinotenda Mutombodzi (10*) put their heads down and didn’t give their wickets.

Here is how Twitterati reacted to the day’s play: –

Great to see #Zimbabwe playing positive, aggressive and fearless cricket.
From here they can press for a rare Test win, their first home Test win in 7 years.#ZIMvSL

— Loshan – ARVLOSHAN (@ARVLoshan) January 27, 2020

#ZIMvSL welldone @sean14williams on your test century

— wisdom sanyangare (@wizsanyangare) January 27, 2020

Good day for Zimbabwe, experienced players like Sean Williams (107), Raza (72) and Brendan Taylor (62) helped them to reach 352 for 6 during day one stumps. #ZIMvSL

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 27, 2020

Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka – Day One

1st Test: 189 off 84 overs (RR 2.25)
2nd Test: 352 off 90 overs (RR 3.91)

It is the most runs Zimbabwe scored in a day's play in Test cricket surpassing 344 made against SL in Colombo RPS in 2017.#ZIMvSL

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) January 27, 2020

A captain's knock by Sean Williams, his second 💯 in just 12 Tests

Zimbabwe in charge on the opening day

#ZIMvSL pic.twitter.com/U9sgoI5DV6

— Cricket Afridi (@CktAfridi37) January 27, 2020

#ZIMvSL excellent partnership by @SRazaB24 and @sean14williams but I guess not having enough experience has led to break in the partnership, two of them had a chance to push @OfficialSLC out of the game.
well deserved 100 for @sean14williams
well played @BrendanTaylor86 #SLvZIM pic.twitter.com/wPYMzDrWvw

— Ashish Singh Rajput آشیش سنگھ راجپوت (@singhlive2win) January 27, 2020

Zimbu batting at 4.05 per over exceptional,, hardly we see such RR in a test match currently,,,, #ZIMvSL

— Mr cricket🏏 (@Mr_crickt) January 27, 2020

Sri Lanka have one very good bowler #ZIMvSL

— Adam (@FulcrumComrade) January 27, 2020

@sean14williams great century 👏#ZIMvSL

— Mokim Ali (@MirMokimAli17) January 27, 2020

Zimbabwe skipper Sean Williams with his 2nd Test century! Sikandar Raza with 72. Zimbabwe playing at 327/6. #ZIMvSL

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) January 27, 2020

Zimbabwe's day

Yes batting friendly. Still disappointed with bowling efforts Hope new ball do some magic 🙏#ZIMvSL

— Poornama Edirisooriya (@poor9grazus) January 27, 2020

Anything less than 400 on this wicket wont be good enough #ZIMvSL

— Mčuphié (@blackpage91) January 27, 2020