Zimbabwe on the rack

The Zimbabwean tourists faced likely defeat at lunch on the final day of their match against Worcestershire. Needing 176 to win, they were 79 for 5 at the interval, with only Grant Flower of their specialist batsmen left. On this inhospitable pitch it would be a major coup to snatch victory now.

The Zimbabweans again suffered a bad start set a target of 176, Mark Vermeulen edging a catch to James Pipe the wicketkeeper off left-arm seamer Mark Harrity before he had scored. Dion Ebrahim made 15 before edging Kabeer Ali to second slip, and the Zimbabweans were in trouble at 20 for 2.

Stuart Carlisle and Grant Flower responded positively to the crisis, but it was far from easy on a difficult pitch and slow outfield. Carlisle looked the more confident, but he fell for 23, caught by Pipe off a ball that lifted from Ali. Next ball Ali produced a superb yorker that bowled Barney Rogers all ends up. At 43 for 4, Zimbabwe were facing ignominious defeat.

Tatenda Taibu stuck around for a while for 8 before he too fell to a catch by Pipe off Andrew Hall, the ball moving in sharply and being taking an inside edge. Andy Blignaut, after an uncertain start, stuck around, and with the obdurate Flower and survived until lunch, when Flower had 15 and Blignaut 12.