OWN CORRESPONDENT, Kingston | Tuesday 11.30am.
COURTNEY Walsh became the most successful bowler in Test cricket on Monday to leave West Indies poised for a runaway victory over Zimbabwe.
The 37-year-old pace veteran took his career tally to a world record 435 wickets, one more than the previous best set by India’s Kapil Dev in 1994.
The wicket that put Walsh top of the list and sparked a huge celebration by team mates and the crowd at the Jamaican’s home Sabina Park ground arrived late on the fourth day.
Wavel Hinds, fielding at short leg, snapped up Zimbabwe tail-ender Henry Olonga and Walsh promptly fell to the ground in relief as he realised he had achieved the target.
Olonga’s dismissal completed the second innings demolition of Zimbabwe for 102 and gave the ever reliable Walsh top bowling figures of three for 21.
”When it happened, it was like a sigh of relief…finally it’s over. I was using up a lot of energy and now I can take things a bit easier,” Walsh said.
West Indies, who reached eight without loss before the close, need only another 64 to win the match and the two-test series 2-0 on the final day on Tuesday.
Walsh, who went into his 114th Test needing five wickets to break the record, kept himself on track with two for 46 in Zimbabwe’s first innings. The removal of openers Trevor Gripper and Grant Flower just after lunch on the fourth day matched Kapil’s achievement.
Walsh has taken 10 wickets in a Test twice and five wickets in an innings on 17 occasions. Before Walsh and his pace partners went to work on Zimbabwe’s batting, Jimmy Adams celebrated his appointment as West Indies captain by completing a century.
Adams, who replaced Brian Lara after the disastrous tour of New Zealand, made an unbeaten 101 as his team totalled 339 to gain a first innings lead of 31.
His sixth test century came off 373 balls and included only six fours. — Reuters