Cricket: Black Caps keep grip on second test and series

New Zealand maintained a vice-like grip on the second cricket test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo yesterday.

Zimbabwe went to lunch on the third day at 21 for two in their second innings, still 232 runs short of making the tourists bat again.

New Zealand's final three wickets fell for 30 runs inside an hour yesterday as they were dismissed for 484, a first innings advantage of 253.

Zimbabwe faltered almost immediately for the fourth time in as many innings in this series when opener Dion Ebrahim lasted just 12 balls and made two before spooning a defensive prod at fast bowler Shane Bond to Scott Styris at second slip.

The home side's wounds were self-inflicted when Stuart Carlisle was run out for 10, with the total on 19, after he was sent back by his partner Brendan Taylor when calling for a sharp single.

James Marshall made the home side pay by throwing down the stumps from short mid wicket with Carlisle short of his ground.

At the break Taylor was on five with Hamilton Masakadza at the other end on two.

New Zealand won the first test of the two-match series in Harare last week by an innings and 294 runs after Zimbabwe disintegrated with scores of 59 and 99.

Centurymaker Nathan Astle added just 12 to his overnight score yesterday before departing for 128 after being deceived and bowled by experienced seamer Heath Streak before James Franklin fell for 19 and Shane Bond for eight.

Astle's departure after facing 217 deliveries, 21 of which he deposited to the boundary, signalled a rapid end to New Zealand's innings.

Franklin then fell leg before wicket to Streak before Bond swung lustily to strike two fours before being bowled by Blessing Mahwire.

Streak was the pick of the Zimbabwe attack, finishing with figures of four for 73 while Mahwire had three for 121.

Astle said he was pleased with the way he batted.

"I knuckled down and concentrated on hitting the bad balls, which you will always get."

The Zimbabweans had no clue how to contain New Zealand.

Astle said his cause had been well served by the time he spent playing in England in the off-season.

"Usually I'm a slow starter, but seven weeks in Durham and having just nine days between that and the start of the tour has done me the world of good."

Stephen Fleming's 65 made him the first New Zealander to pass 6000 runs in test cricket.

"It's great for him," Astle said. "It's great to see someone reach milestones like that."

Bulawayo's pitches are notoriously indestructible, but Astle said he was hopeful the New Zealand bowlers would be aided by a surface that has favoured batsmen so far.

Keith Dabengwa, Zimbabwe's debutant left-arm spinner, reminded the visitors that the match was far from over.

"We can build well from here. We showed in the first innings that we can dig deep. Hopefully we can still set New Zealand a challenge."

- NZPA