Zimbabwe -- NZ Test heading for draw

A Test-best score and a record partnership dissolved any anxiety Zimbabwe may have had entering the penultimate day of their one-off rain-affected cricket Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Friday.

Needing 288 to avoid a follow on, the tourists ended the day on that total when stumps were drawn at the Basin Reserve. Debutant Doug Marillier was on 26 and Trevor Madondo 44.

Resuming at 48 for two, they suffered an early setback when Alistair Campbell was adjudged leg before wicket to Chris Martin with the score on 66. However, opener Gavin Rennie and leading batsman Andy Flower held the New Zealand attack at bay, adding a record stand of 130 for the fourth wicket against the home side. The pair comfortably handled the spin attack of Paul Wiseman and Brooke Walker, and it took the new ball and the re-introduction of Chris Martin to effect the vital breakthrough.

Martin, in the third over with the new ball, found the edge of Flower's bat and wicketkeeper Adam Parore took a smart catch low down in front of Stephen Fleming at first slip. Flower's 79 was his sixth consecutive innings of more than 50.

When Flower reached 37, he also surpassed 1,000 runs for the calendar year, the second player to do so behind Inzamam-Ul-Haq of Pakistan. His partnership with Rennie surpassed the 88 compiled by Flower and David Houghton at Auckland in 1995-96.

Although Flower's departure gave New Zealand renewed hopes of working through the order, Rennie remained rock-solid. He seemed destined to score his maiden Test century, but with just seven required he edged a ball from Craig McMillan to Parore. Rennie batted for 403 minutes, faced 323 balls and scored 10 boundaries.

Chris Martin was on course for Test-best figures, ending the day with four for 45 off 26 overs. He took four for 104 against South Africa in the second test at Port Elizabeth earlier this month.

Walker finished a disappointing day with none for 68 off 22 overs while Wiseman also went wicketless, conceding 106 off 48 overs.

Scoreboard

New Zealand (1st innings): 487-7 decl. (C. McMillan 142, N. Astle 141, B. Strang 116-3)

Zimbabwe (1st innings):

G. Rennie c Parore b McMillan 93
G. Whittall b Martin 9
S. Carlisle c Horne b Martin 0
A. Campbell lbw Martin 24
A. Flower C Parore b Martin 79
T. Madondo not out 44
D. Marillier not out 26
Extras: (b3, lb8, nb2) 13
Total (for five wickets) 288
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-23, 3-66, 4-196, 5-237.
Bowling: C. Martin 26-11-45-4 (2nb), S. O'Connor 16-7-29-0, P.Wiseman 48-11-106-0, B. Walker 22-1-68-0, C. McMillan 9-4-22-1, N. Astle 5-2-7-0.
Overs: 126
Umpires: Steve Dunne (Nzl), BC Cooray (Ind).

Mail Cricket Editor