Bee swarm has Black Caps ducking for cover as Sodhi spins through Zimbabwe A

The Black Caps duck for cover as a swarm of bees invade their match against Zimbabwe A. Photo / Black Caps.

A swarm of bees put the Black Caps on the back foot in a bizarre incident in their tour match in Harare.

During day two of their match against Zimbabwe A, a swarm of bees buzzed over the Harare Sports Club and forced the players to hit the deck in search of cover.

New Zealand ended the day with a 385-run lead after a four-wicket haul by legspinner Ish Sodhi.

Allrounder Mitchell Santner said it was the first time he had seen anything like it while playing cricket, but downplayed the threat the bees posed.

"I saw Boulty [Trent Boult] hit the deck pretty early, from there everyone else seemed to hit the deck. I was the only one standing, I think you'll find," he said.

"They were quite far away, so I don't know why everyone was on the ground. But it was a bit weird, we had to stop play for a bit. But I think they moved on and we carried on."

Sodhi ripped through Zimbabwe A's middle and lower order to help put the Black Caps in a dominant position with a day to play.

Highlights from the bowling effort. @ish_sodhi leading the way with 4 for 18. #ZIMvNZ #3daywarmup ^WN pic.twitter.com/RCru6HOzN5

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 23, 2016

Click here for video of swarming bees