Vermeulen was reprieved by the umpire after reaching 61

Mark Vermeulen completed a maiden century as Zimbabwe avoided having to follow on in the second Test against West Indies at Bulawayo.

By the close on day three, West Indies were 13-1 in their second innings, giving them a lead of 117.

Zimbabwe had earlier been bowled out for 377 with Vermeulen recording a patient 118 after a lucky escape on 61 when he was bowled by a no-ball.

He shared a fourth wicket stand of 154 with Craig Wishart, who hit 96.

Wishart was denied a hundred of his own when he was lbw to Corey Collymore during the morning having added 154 for the fourth wicket with Vermeulen.

Wishart was out in the third over of play and Stuart Matsikenyeri lasted for only half an hour before he was bowled by Collymore for eight.

Fortunate

But Vermeulen found another reliable partner in Tatenda Taibu, who made 27 in an important partnership of 78.

Vermeulen's hundred arrived in fortunate style, when he attempted to hook a short ball from Merv Dillon and collected four for a top edge over the slip cordon.

But the home side then suffered a mini-collapse as they lost three wickets for 23 including Vermeulen, who offered no stroke to a ball from spinner Omari Banks and was bowled off his pads.

Collymore finished with 4-70 but Andy Blignaut (31) and Ray Price (35) helped the last two wickets add 75.

Zimbabwe had three overs of bowling at West Indies before bad light intervened but Heath Streak needed just one ball to remove Chris Gayle lbw for a duck.

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.