Morale boosting victory for Zimbabwe at Headingley

Zimbabwe's morale received a welcome boost just five days before the second Test match when they beat Yorkshire in this Vodaphone Challenge match.

Heavy rain just before the scheduled start meant that play was delayed for 10 minutes, but Zimbabwe soon had their first success. With Yorkshire needing 180 to win opening bowler Mbangwa stuck in the second over with his second ball. He had Yorkshire skipper David Byas caught at forward short leg by Murray Goodwin.

In his next over he removed Richard Harden for one. Harden hit a leading edge straight to Nkala at mid on. With the first ball of Brian Strang's third over Victor Craven was caught by Grant Flower in the gully. There was more bad news for Yorkshire when Wood became the fourth man out. He was caught by Brent at mid off. Yorkshire were now 13 for four and Mbangwa had taken three wickets for just three runs.

Michael Lumb who was making his first class debut for Yorkshire joined Garry Fellows. Michael who is the 21-year-old son of former Yorkshire vice Captain Richard Lumb cannot play county cricket for Yorkshire until next season because he was born in South Africa. The pair looked comfortable and took the score to 54 before Fellows was out. He pushed forward to Strang and was caught behind by Any Flower.

Gavin Hamilton was nearly out before lunch but the ball dropped short of second slip when he was only three. Hamilton and Lumb were realistically Yorkshire`s last chance of winning the match. Lumb played some wonderful square drives and looked the mirror image of his father, because Michael is a left hander and his dad was a right hander. The pair added 40 when Hamilton was caught behind by Flower of Nkala's first ball of his second spell.

Middlebrook looked uneasy troughout his innings of 7 before he was caught by Grant Flower at point off Nkala. Guy hung in with Lumb and took the score to 128 before he was caught by Andy Flower off Strang. Next ball Hutchison was caught by Carlise at second slip after the ball had rebounded of Goodwin at third slip.

Last man Hoggard tried to slog Yorkshire to victory and scored ten in no time. His attitude was followed by Lumb who also started to hit out. Hoggard was the last wicket to fall when he was LBW to Nakala. Lumb remained unbeaten on 66. When Lumb brought up his fifty he had scored 44 in boundaries.

Brian finished with four for 41 and Nkala took two wickets for 24 runs. Mbangwa who was named man the match took four wickets for 39 runs but ended up with career best figures of 10 for 53.