Zimbabwe facing stiff task on day five

Cricket365
November 16, 2011

Hamilton Masakadza's careless dismissal off the last ball of day four left Zimbabwe with a mountain to climb on the final day of their Test against New Zealand.

Maskadza was brilliantly caught in the gully by Dean Brownlie to send Zimbabwe to stumps on 61 for two, still needing 305 runs to secure what would be a famous victory.

Doug Bracewell was the man to strike after New Zealand had celared their second innings on 252 for eight, setting Zimbabwe a stiff target of 366, as he removed both Masakadza and opener Vusi Sibanda.

Kyle Jarvis had become the first Zimbabwe bowler to take a five-wicket haul since their return to Test cricket in August, but it wasn't enough to prevent New Zealand achieving their goal of declaring midway through the final session.

Nineteen years after his father Malcolm took part in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test match, Jarvis recorded figures of 5 for 64, but it couldn't stop the Black Caps from gaining a lead of 365.

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor led the New Zealand charge, overcoming the early loss of nightwatchman Jeetan Patel to add 119 for the fourth wicket.

Jarvis broke the partnership when he trapped Williamson lbw for 68, before Ray Price had BJ Watling caught at slip for just three.

Taylor then fell for 76 for the second time in the match when he was also out lbw to Jarvis for 76, who followed up by bowling Dean Brownlie to wrap up his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

His marathon spell in the heat of the afternoon saw him take 3 for 37 in 10 overs as he used reverse swing to good effect.

Daniel Vettori was dropped off the bowling of Jarvis when he was on eight, and went on to score a quick 31 in just 42 balls, allowing New Zealand to declare shortly after his dismissal.

That left Zimbabwe with 24 overs to face, and they very nearly lost Tino Mawoyo first ball of the innings when he survived a close lbw shout from Chris Martin.

Fellow opener Sibanda was not so fortunate, with Bruce Oxenford controversially giving him out lbw after he'd been hit on the front pad by Bracewell.

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