Mpofu, Sibanda lead Zimbabwe fightback
FAST bowler Chris Mpofu and opening batsman Vusi Sibanda led a Zimbabwe fightback on the second day of the one-off Test against New Zealand in Bulawayo.
New Zealand had looked set for an imposing total after reaching 401 for five midway the afternoon session but they suffered a dramatic collapse to 426 all out, with Mpofu claiming four of the seven Black Caps wickets to fall on day two. Sibanda then took up the baton as Zimbabwe started their first innings, scoring an unbeaten 53 to lead the home side to 82 for one by the close of play.
Hamilton Masakadza was also there on 22 not out after Zimbabwe had lost Tino Mawoyo for five.
New Zealand started the day in a strong position on 275 for three but, after a rain-delayed start, they suffered an early blow when captain Ross Taylor was dismissed in the second over by Test debutant Njabulo Ncube without adding to his overnight score of 76.
That brought in another Test newcomer, Dean Brownlie, and he added a patient 45 for the fifth wicket in 21 overs with B Watling before Zimbabwe struck again to dismiss the latter for 39, Regis Chakabva taking an edge off Mpofu.
Brownlie and Daniel Vettori took the Black Caps past 400, but the dismissal of Brownlie for 63, caught at first slip off the bowling of Ray Price, began a slide that saw the visitors lose their final five wickets for just 25 runs.
Vettori was snared by Mpofu for 40, while Doug Bracewell (nought), Jeetan Patel (12) and Chris Martin (nought) failed to hang around for long as the tail folded in rapid fashion.
Bracewell bowled six successive maidens but was unable to make a breakthrough during that period, but spinner Vettori looked an immediate threat after coming on in the 11th over and, after two big lbw appeals in the previous four balls, he trapped Mawoyo leg-before with the fifth delivery of his second over to earn New Zealand their first breakthrough.
However, that was the only wicket the visitors could claim as Sibanda and Masakadza shared an unbroken 58-run stand to guide Zimbabwe through to the close, trailing New Zealand by 344 runs. (PA Sport)

SCORECARD
NEW ZEALAND first innings
M. Guptil c Taibu b Masakadza    109
B. McCullum b Jarvis    14
K. Williamson run-out    49
R. Taylor c Chakabva b Ncube    76
B. Watling c Chakabva b Mpofu    39
D Brownlie c Taylor b Price    63
D Vettori c Taylor b Mpofu    40
R Young not out    9
D Bracewell b Mpofu    0
J. Patel c Mawoyo b Mpofu    12
C. Martin b Price    0
Extras: (b-7, lb-3, w-2, nb-3)    15
Total: (all out, off 143.3 overs)    426
Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-115, 3-247, 4-275, 5-320, 6-401, 7-407, 8-407, 9-425.
Bowling: K Jarvis 28-6-98-1 (nb-3, w-1), N Ncube 25-4-80-1, C Mpofu 34-10-92-4 (w-1), R Price 42.3-7-118-2, H Masakadza 11-4-20-1, M Waller 3-0-8-0.
ZIMBABWE first innings
T.Mawoyo lbw Vettori    5
V. Sibanda not out    53
H. Masakadza not out    22
Extras: (lb-2)    2
Total: (for one wicket, off 40 overs)    82
Fall of wickets: 1-40
Bowling: C. Martin 8-3-26-0, D Bracewell 10-7-13-0, D. Vettori 13-5-23-1, J. Patel 9-1-18-0.