West Indies appear on course to win the first Test against Zimbabwe after an impressive second day which saw them bowled out for 307 in their first innings and then reduce the tourists to 3-41 in their second innings.

It leaves the Zimbabweans requiring another 55 runs just to get the hosts to bat again.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy led from the front, top-scoring with 73, before taking two smart catches.

He came to the crease just after lunch with his team labouring at 6-151 in reply to the visitors’ first innings total of 211, but then he dominated a 106-run seventh-wicket partnership with Denesh Ramdin (62) to tilt the balance of play in his side’s favour.

Kyle Jarvis’ career-best Test innings figures of 5-54 limited the home side to a total of 307 and a lead of 96.

However worse was to follow for the Zimbabweans in the 14 overs they faced to the close of play as tearaway fast bowler Shannon Gabriel removed Tino Mawoyo.

Spinner Shane Shillingford also snared two wickets in two overs to have the visitors praying desperately to get off the pitch and to the safety of the pavilion.

Given the frailties of their middle and lower-order batting, their prospects of avoiding a massive defeat on the third day appear unlikely on a pitch playing increasingly at varying heights.

Captain Brendan Taylor will resume on the third morning with nightwatchman Ray Price, whose economical spin was sparingly used by his skipper, especially when Sammy and, to a lesser extent, Ramdin were on the go in mid-afternoon.