Cricket: Fractured finger puts paid to Flower's tour

Experienced Zimbabwe top order batsman Grant Flower is out of the test and and one-day cricket series against New Zealand after breaking a finger in the tour match against Canterbury in Christchurch yesterday.

Flower was injured while fielding on the second day of the match.

Manager Babu Meman said he was unsure if Flower would return home as Zimbabwe is headed to Australia for a one-day tri-series on January 8.

Gary Stead and Nathan Astle gave the national selectors something to puzzle over.

Stead, unwanted by the selectors this season, hit an unbeaten 100 in Canterbury's 330 for five declared, but test encumbent Astle, with a lazy waft at the 10th ball he faced yesterday, continued his bad run of form in making just 17. His was the only Canterbury wicket to fall yesterday.

It was a timely reminder from Stead, a prolific scorer as an opening batsman in the Shell Trophy, that he has not lost touch with his former middle-order role.

Zimbabwe began badly but rallied to finish the day at 112 for four, with Doug Marillier unbeaten on 51.