Cricket: Zimbabwe battles hard

Guy Whittall is leading the charge for Zimbabwe as the home team battles to avoid an innings defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the second test in Harare.
Trailing by 299 after the first innings and forced to follow on by the kiwis, Zimbabwe looked to be in all sorts of trouble at 4 for 48 in their second turn at bat.

But a fifth wicket partnership of 131 between Whittal and Andy Flower stopped the rot and at stumps on day four Whittall is unbeaten on 105, his third test century, and Zimbabwe is 228 for 5, needing another 72 runs to make the Black Caps bat again.

Meanwhile Chris Cairns will miss the one-day series against Zimbabwe as he seeks treatment for his right knee injury.

The kiwi all rounder will fly to Johannesburg tomorrow to have a cortisone injection in the knee but will rejoin the squad in time for the International Cricket Council's knockout tournament in Kenya next month.

- IRN