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Mehluli Sibanda in BULAWAYO

ZIMBABWE were left facing the possibility of a series defeat by New Zealand after losing three late wickets which left them reeling on the fourth day of the second cricket Test at Queens Sports Club yesterday. The home team, cleaned up for 362 in their first innings were 58-3 in 25.2 overs at the close of play last night, still requiring a further 329 runs for victory with seven wickets in hand.They had initially looked set but wickets lost just before the end extinguished any hopes of an unlikely victory.

Brisk unbeaten half centuries from Kane Williamson (68) and Ross Taylor (67) saw New Zealand, who made 582 for the loss of four wickets declared in the first innings, call time on their second attempt at 166 with just two wickets down.

That left Zimbabwe with a victory target on 387 runs.

Zimbabwe headed into day four on 305 for the loss of six wickets in 120 overs, Ervine on 115 runs and skipper Graeme Cremer on two.

Cremer departed in the seventh over of the day, given out leg before wicket to Trent Boult for eight runs which came off 36 deliveries.

Left arm seamer Neil Wagner claimed the wicket of Donald Tiripano, another lbw for three but television replays showed that ball pitched outside leg and the batsman should have not been given out by Australian umpire Paul Reiffel.

John Nyumbu hit a six on his way to eight from 30 prior to becoming leg spinner Inderbir Sodhi’s third wicket, taken by Mitchell Santner at midwicket.

Ervine went just before lunch, trying to clear the boundary off Sodhi’s bowling but only succeeded in picking out Wagner at long off to bring an end to his innings of 146 runs in 272 deliveries with 18 fours and one six in 404 minutes spent at the crease.

Sodhi finished with figures of four wickets for 60 runs in 21.4 overs, nine of those being maidens, Wagner had 2-61 while Santner took 2-105.

Despite Zimbabwe being 20 runs short of the follow on score, New Zealand decided to bat for a second time.

Zimbabwe struck two early blows after lunch to get rid of the New Zealand openers.

Thomas Latham was the first to go, removed by Tiripano, taken behind by wicketkeeper Peter Moor for 13.

His opening partner Martin Guptil followed him shortly, removed by Michael Chinouya, Nyumbu with a brilliant catch at gully.

Skipper Williamson and former captain Taylor stabilised the New Zealand innings with a century stand for the third wicket as the visitors took their lead beyond 300 runs.

Williamson got to his 21st Test half century off 85 deliveries with four boundaries.

After tea, New Zealand adopted a scoring rate as they looked to declare. Taylor pulled Cremer into the stands where the ball was briefly lost but quickly found.

He got his 25th Test 50 in 70 deliveries, four put away for a boundary and one for a six.

Taylor continued with his aggressive style of play, this time around Chinouya sent into the trees. Cremer was hit for another six by Taylor and soon came the declaration.

Zimbabwe’s opening partnership was worth 45 runs, broken in the 17th over when Chamunorwa Chibhabha edged one from Wagner to Guptil at second slip to depart for 21 off 43 balls.

Mawoyo fell an over before the end, trapped leg before wicket by Trent Boult for 35. It got worse for Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza out for a 17 ball duck, given out leg before wicket to Southee.

Zimbabwe have a lot to do on the last day where a minimum 90 overs will be bowled. Ervine, Sean Williams, Moor and Prince Masvaure have a big part to play today.

Scores

New Zealand 582-4 declared 150 overs (Latham 136, Taylor 124*, Williamson 113, Guptil 87, Watling 83*, Williams 1/62) and 166-2 36 overs (Williamson 68*, Taylor 67*, Tiripano 1/14)

Zimbabwe 362 all out 143.4 overs (Ervine 146, Moor 71, Chibhabha 60, Sodhi 4/60, Wagner 2/61, Santner 2/102) and 58-3 25.2 overs (Mawoyo 35, Chibhabha 21, Boult 1/11)

Zimbabwe require 329 runs to win with seven second innings wickets in hand