Pace pair fight for Test place

Trevor Gripper drives on his way to 42

West Indies 407 and 12-0, Zimbabwe 275-8 declared

Pace bowlers Nixon McLean and Franklyn Rose shared seven wickets as the battle for a West Indies Test place gained heat at Arundel.

But they were made to wait for their success by Zimbabwe's Murray Goodwin, whose knock of 126 was the highlight of the second of three days.

The classy right-hander led his side to a declaration score of 275 for eight, still 132 runs adrift of the West Indies, who then added 12 for nought off the day's final five overs.

Goodwin, a century maker against England at Trent Bridge, was never in trouble as he eased past three figures against some indifferent bowling.

He faced 221 balls and stoked 16 fours before picking out Shivnarine Chanderpaul at point with a full-blooded cut.

Bowlers struggle

Opener Trevor Gripper ground-out a painstaking 42, Dirk Viljoen hit 33 and Alistair Campbell raced to 31 as the West Indies back-up bowlers struggled.

But the return of Rose in the final session changed all that, as he made-up for some bad luck earlier in the day by trapping Viljoen and Mluleki Nkala with successive deliveries.

McLean then sent back Goodwin and had Paul Strang brilliantly caught behind to prompt an intriguing declaration from Zimbabwe's skipper Andy Flower.

Test contention

The West Indies choose their side on Wednesday for the first Test at Edgbaston and it is expected to be a straight fight between Rose and McLean to partner Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Reon King, who are all sitting out this fixture.

Rose produced life and movement from an easy-paced wicket in West Sussex and will be favourite to get the nod.

Sherwin Campbell continued his excellent warm-up for the serious business of the tour by taking three catches at second slip to go along with his innings of 146.

The West Indies, whose final four first-innings wickets added 43, now have the chance to score quickly tomorrow and set Zimbabwe a challenging target.

Medium pacer Bryan Strang took the bowling honours for Zimbabwe, completing first-innings figures of five for 68.