Lara did not play himself but was the centre of attention when formally opening the new Takashinga Cricket Club in the high-density township of Highfields.

West Indies lost three early wickets when Chris Gayle went for 25, Wavell Hinds for five and Ramnaresh Sarwan for 17. The tourists were struggling on 93-3, but a 175 run partnership between century makers Daren Ganga (110) and Shivnarene Chanderpaul (102 retired hurt) put the West Indies back on track.

Marlon Samuels with an unbeaten 66 and Ridley Jacobs' 55 not out kept the momentum going, enabling West Indies to declare on 404-5.

The Zimbabwe A openers Dion Ebrahim and Vuzimusi Sibanda survived a spirited nine overs by Jerome Taylor and Ravi Rampaul and were 27 without loss in reply at the close.

This is the first time a township ground in Zimbabwe has hosted an international cricket team.

Other similar grounds in Zimbabwe are soon to be ready for play in Bulawayo, and in the Midlands town of Kwekwe, as part of the extensive development program to bring young blacks into the game.