Cricket: Horne scores ton but NZ struggles

BULAWAYO - Matthew Horne completed his fourth test century as New Zealand lost ground in the first cricket test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo early today.

At the midway point on the third day, the tourists were 167 for five, with Horne on an unbeaten 104 and Craig McMillan 14 not out, in reply to Zimbabwe's 350.

Earlier, New Zealand ended day two of the test on an even keel after a marathon five sessions in the field.

Having dismissed Zimbabwe in 175 overs and more than 10 hours in the hot sun, New Zealand were 62 for two at the close, with their two form batsmen, Mark Richardson and Mathew Sinclair, back in the pavilion.

Horne was on 40 after being caught off a no-ball when on 12.

The pitch was looking likely to take more and more turn, and legspinner Paul Strang would have been delighted with his brief early spell - and success.

Coach David Trist said Daniel Vettori and Paul Wiseman, who laboured for 97 overs between them when the pitch was best for batting, would give the team a good show if they had runs to play with.

``On the last day it will turn and bounce and we have Vettori and Wiseman. If we can have any kind of a lead going into the last day there's only one side that can win,'' Trist said.

But it was going to be hard work for the New Zealand batsmen after Richardson hit a loose ball straight to point and Sinclair was deceived by a Strang googly.

New Zealand let a slight advantage from day one slip a little, although Vettori and Wiseman were excellent in tandem.

Wiseman picked up his second five-wicket bag for New Zealand in his 11th test, with five for 90 off 45 overs. Vettori took one for 79 off 52 overs.

``The rest of the bowlers did a fantastic job and I was just the one who picked up a few,'' said Wiseman. ``The fielding was excellent, too.''

From 185 for four overnight, there was a hope New Zealand could finish the innings off early in the middle session.

But with Alistair Campbell's 88 and Heath Streak's 51, combined with a stubborn last-wicket stand between Mluleki Nkala and David Mutendera, the tourists did not find the sanctuary of the pavilion until two hours before stumps.

``I thought we might have got them for a little bit less at one stage, but the bowlers still stuck to their task,'' Trist said.

``Then losing those wickets was a disappointment.

``We needed to establish a serious platform, so one wicket would have been acceptable and zero would have been desirable.''

Zimbabwe captain Streak had reason to be pleased at the end of the second day.

The debut captain saw his team overcome all sorts of turmoil - including the withdrawal of vice-
captain Guy Whittall in protest over team selection - to be on level terms.

``We got a competitive score,'' he said.

``We would have liked to get closer to 400, but 350 is a good total and if we bowl well we're in with a chance.''

Streak, who was surprised to be handed the captaincy so soon, also took pride in his gutsy innings of 51 in 178 minutes. # At lunch, New Zealand were 128 for three. Wiseman was out for 14. Horne was on 85 and Stephen Fleming 6.

Shortly after lunch, Fleming went for 14 and Nathan Astle for a duck.

ZIMBABWE

First Innings

G. Flower c Parore b Vettori 24

G. Rennie c McMillan b Wiseman 36

S. Carlisle c Horne b Wiseman 38

A. Campbell lbw Astle 88

A. Flower c Astle b Cairns 29

C. Wishart c Richardson b Wiseman 17

H. Streak c Parore b Wiseman 51

P. Strang c Richardson b Wiseman 0

M. Nkala not out 30

B. Strang c Parore b O'Connor 10

D. Mutendera b Cairns 10

Extras (5b, 4lb, 8nb) 17

Total (175.2 overs) 350

Fall: 1/40 (G. Flower), 2/91 (Rennie), 3/120 (Carlisle), 4/157 (A Flower), 5/206 (Wishart), 6/282 (Campbell), 7/291 (P. Strang), 8/300 (Streak), 9/323 (B. Strang), 10/350 (Mutendera).

Bowling: C. Cairns 28.2-9-77-2 (1nb), S. O'Connor 30-7-63-1 (1nb), C. McMillan 9-3-23-0, D. Vettori 52-23-79-1 (6nb), N. Astle 11-6-9-1, P. Wiseman 45-16-90-5.

NEW ZEALAND

First Innings

M. Richardson c Carlisle b Streak 6

M. Horne not out 85

M. Sinclair lbw b P. Strang 12

P. Wiseman lbw b P. Strang 14

S. Fleming not out 6

Extras (5nb)5

Total for 3 wkts (56 overs) 128

Fall: 1/15 (Richardson), 2/52 (Sinclair), 3/109 (Wiseman).

Bowling: H. Streak 11-2-32-1 (1nb), M. Nkala 9-2-20-0 (1nb), P. Strang 18-4-29-2, B. Strang 10-1-29-0 (3nb), D. Mutendera 7-2-10-0, G. Flower 1-0-5-0.

- NZPA