It was an overdue ton for Streak, who is playing in his 56th Test

Skipper Heath Streak fired his maiden Test century to propel Zimbabwe to a very strong position after day two of the first Test against West Indies.

Streak made an unbeaten 127 before declaring the innings on 507-9.

In reply, West Indies reached 11-0 before bad light brought a premature end to the day's play.

Streak put on a national record 168 runs for the eighth wicket with Andy Blignaut, who fell nine runs short of his first ton.

Visiting captain Brian Lara used nine bowlers, with Fidel Edwards returning 5-133 as the team's only multiple wicket-taker.

Lara was unable to call on the services of fast bowler Jerome Taylor, whose lower back strain kept him from the field for the two sessions.

The body's not getting any younger, so I've got to chip in with the runs to keep my spot in the side Heath Streak

Zimbabwe, 284-6 overnight, put on 88 runs in the morning session for the loss of one batsman, Tatenda Taibu.

Taibu, who resumed play on 75, added just eight before he got an inside edge onto an Edwards delivery, the ball crashing into his stumps.

But Streak and Blignaut batted throughout the afternoon, seeing off the previous Zimbabwe record for the eighth wicket - 110 by Guy Whittall and Brian Strang against Pakistan in 1998.

Edwards battled manfully to snare his first five-wicket haul

Streak brought up his first ton, in his 56th Test, with a single off Edwards on the stroke of tea. In doing so, he became the 14th individual century-maker for his country.

Blignaut, who struck eight boundaries in an entertaining 126-ball knock, was caught off Vasbert Drakes for 91, falling one short of his best score.

Ray Price was soon trapped in front on his stumps by Edwards for two, heralding the rookie paceman's first five-wicket haul.

Blessing Mahwire enjoyed a three-ball stint before the declaration came, Streak drawing the curtains on his own wonderful innings, which included 12 boundaries and came off 264 balls.

Streak sent down a maiden over before bad light stopped play, with Chris Gayle (six) and Wavell Hinds (nought) the not-out batsmen.

Zimbabwe: Mark Vermeulen, Trevor Gripper, Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu (wkt), Andy Blignaut, Heath Streak (capt), Ray Price, Blessing Mahwire.