Lara smashes Mahwire in Bulawayo

Brian Lara and Wavell Hinds starred for the West Indies on the first day of the second Test against Zimbabwe.

Hinds hit 81 and Lara was 77 not out when rain brought an early end to proceedings in Bulawayo.

West Indies were on 282-3 when play was halted just seven overs after tea.

Lara struck 12 fours, sharing in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 121 with Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was 46 not out.

Zimbabwe spinner Ray Price did make some progress, taking two wickets in the day after the slow pitch offered little for the seamers.

I was set for a hundred but then I got myself out. I'll have to work on that very hard next time around Wavell Hinds

He had Hinds stumped by wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu and Daren Ganga out for 23.

But it was Andy Blignaut who got the breakthrough for the home side 25 minutes before lunch when he had opener Chris Gayle caught behind for 47.

Then it was the turn of Price, who took the wickets of Hinds and Ganga inside three overs.

Hinds, who had reached his half-century with a six over long-on off Price three balls after lunch, strode down the pitch and was easily stumped.

His knock off 109 balls included 12 fours and two sixes.

The West Indies' performance was a marked turnaround from the first Test in which they clung on for a draw after being outplayed.

They made two changes from the team so nearly beaten in Harare - off-spinner Omari Banks and seamer Merv Dillon coming into the side.

Paceman Jerome Taylor picked up an injury in Harare while seamer Vasbert Drakes was dropped.

Zimbabwe fielded an unchanged side.

Teams:

Zimbabwe: Vusi Sibanda, Trevor Gripper, Mark Vermeulen, Stuart Carlisle, Stuart Matsikenyere, Craig Wishart, Tatenda Taibu, Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Blessing Mahwire. 12th man Jordaan Nicolle.