Cricket: Record partnership gives Zimbabwe hope

Mitchell McClenaghan celebrates the wicket of Hamilton Masakadza. Photo / Getty

A spirited record ninth wicket stand put some substance into Zimbabwe's innings in the second ODI against New Zealand in Harare tonight.

The stand of 89 between centurymaker Sikander Raza and seamer Tineshe Panyangara carried Zimbabwe to 235 for nine, with Panyangara run out off the final ball for his highest ODI score, 33.

Raza's 100 was a fine innings, his third ODI ton, loaded with character as he dug Zimbabwe out of a deep hole at 68 for five, having won the toss.

His runs came off 95 balls, from which he hit four thunderous sixes to ensure Zimbabwe, who lead the three-game series, at least had something to work with.

The innings began poorly and when four wickets fell for 26 in seven overs, Zimbabwe seemed to have thrown away the initiative.

It was a contestable point whether captain Elton Chigumbura made the right decision.

After all, Zimbabwe had won the first ODI electing to send New Zealand in and chase down 303 so it must have been tempting to stick with the routine that had worked two days earlier.

The only other batsmen to make a contribution were lively opener Chamu Chibhabha with a brisk 42, and Sean Williams, who added 60 with Raza for the sixth wicket.

New Zealand's bowling, problematic in the first ODI, was better, with hostility from Mitchell McClenaghan, tidy work from medium pacer Grant Elliott and offspinner Nathan McCullum and a good return for legspinner Ish Sodhi, who finished with three for 38 off his 10 overs.

He might have been a touch fortunate to get an lbw decision against wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva, when the ball might have missed leg stump, but removed Chibhabha with a tasty delivery which spun sharply to leave the batsman stranded down the pitch.

Less impressive was New Zealand's fielding. Sodhi and Colin Munro - replacing Jimmy Neesham in the only change from the opening ODI -- slipped up badly off the luckless McClenaghan, which cost two boundaries, and substitute fielder Ben Wheeler spilling a regulation catch at cover off captain Kane Williamson, when Raza was on 67.

Balancing that was a clever piece of work by Martin Guptill to run out Williams when the batsman was sent back after a mixup.