Cricket: Zimbabweans let off the hook

By RICHARD BOOCK

The perils of ordering a pitch to suit a spin attack boasting only 35 wickets was highlighted yesterday as Zimbabwe cruised into the last day of the test match at Wellington with a minimum of fuss and bother.

Batting in the shadow of New Zealand's 487 for seven declared, Zimbabwe were hardly extended by the home side's spin-based attack, and successfully managed to avoid the follow-on last night as they reached 288 for five at stumps.

New Zealand have insisted that, for some reason, they specifically requested a pitch of a similar nature to those used at the Basin Reserve in the past few seasons, although the one which was revealed on Boxing Day morning had more in common with something you might find on the sub-continent.

For all that, off-spinner Paul Wiseman and rookie leg-spinner Brooke Walker were unable to harness the assistance provided in the surface and managed to bowl 70 wicketless overs, as first Gavin Rennie and Andy Flower, and then Trevor Madondo and Doug Marillier provided spirited resistance throughout the day.

The New Zealand spin twins not only failed to create sufficient wicket-taking pressure, they allowed the Zimbabwe batsmen to milk them throughout the day, with Walker managing to bowl only one maiden in 22 overs, and Wiseman also giving away too many easy runs.

Flower struck his sixth consecutive test 50 on the way to 79, while Rennie posted his top score in 19 tests, but was mortified to be dismissed after a 403-minute vigil just seven runs short of his maiden test century.

Ironically, New Zealand's main penetration came from South African success story Chris Martin, who took two of the day's three wickets to end with four for 45.

The 26-year-old paceman had former skipper Alistair Campbell - who did not seem best pleased with the decision - trapped in front in the 31st over, and then sent back dangerman Flower after the left-hander had battled for 195 minutes, combining with Rennie to add a Zimbabwe record 130 for the fourth wicket.

The other wicket was taken by Craig McMillan, who had Rennie expertly caught at the wicket by Adam Parore after an innings lasting 323 balls, and including 10 fours.

It was disappointing day for the New Zealand bowlers, particularly the two spinners, who never seemed to bowl with the necessary degree of control, and because of that allowed the tourists to relieve the pressure with low-risk runs all around the wicket.

New Zealand coach David Trist believed his side had let the chance for a win slip through their fingers.

"It was frustrating and disappointing," Trist said. "Chris Martin put the ball in the right place and did create pressure, and while the spinners had an opportunity to bowl in tandem and do the same thing, they weren't able to.

"In fact, they were able to be used in tandem infrequently and at the end of the day we missed a royal opportunity."

Madondo, who was on 44 at stumps, and Marillier, batting stubbornly despite a thumb injury, saw Zimbabwe through to the follow-on mark just before stumps with an unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership worth 51.

Trist is now expecting the match to peter out to a draw because of the weather, which has robbed the game of several hours, and because of New Zealand's poor bowling on a pitch conducive to their attack.

"When it's all boiled down, we only took three wickets on a day which promised much more," he said. "We didn't get enough wickets, and we can't accelerate the game simply because, at this point of time, we're in no position to. We're behind the eight-ball."