Zimbabwe v New Zealand, Second Test, Day 2, Harare

New Zealand made rather laborious progress on the second day at Harare Sports Club, taking their overnight score of 226 for four to 465 all out, a record total in the series. Their highlight was a century by all-rounder Chris Cairns. In reply, Zimbabwe were 31 for one at the close.

McMillan had a lucky escape before he had scored, being dropped by Campbell at second slip off Streak, the ball slipping trough for four. Astle top-edged a six off Olonga over fine leg, but later attempted a second run from a glide to long leg off Nkala, and unwisely failed to appreciate the danger of Mbangwa's throw until it was too late. He was run out by inches for 86 when a little more speed would have seen him home. New Zealand were now 255 for five.

Streak bowled superbly without luck, often beating the batsmen. To the last ball before lunch McMillan, who had been unusually subdued, played inside a straight delivery from Mbangwa to be lbw for 15, with Cairns at the other end on 33.

After lunch New Zealand began enterprisingly, but Parore (4) did not last long, slashing at Olonga to be caught at the wicket. Then, as so often happens, the eighth wicket held up Zimbabwe. Cairns ran to his fifty off 61 balls, hammering Streak and Olonga in particular, while Nash proved a highly capable partner, playing some well-chosen and powerful drives. Zimbabwe tightened up the game, though, and the pair settled down to accumulate.

Cairns, 92 at tea, ran to his fourth Test century shortly afterwards, off 142 balls, while Nash passed his fifty. The partnership only came to an end after 145 runs, a New Zealand eighth-wicket record, when Nash (62) skied a rank long hop from Strang to wide mid-on, where Grant Flower ran round to take a very high catch. Off the very next ball Cairns (124) leapt down the pitch to Strang and was stumped as the ball rebounded off Andy Flower's gloves on to the stumps; New Zealand were now 462 for nine. The innings ended in the next over for 465 when Grant Flower had O'Connor (2) caught by Whittall at mid-off, leaving Wiseman not out with 1.

When Zimbabwe batted, Cairns produced a sharp lifter that had Rennie (4) fending off to Spearman at third slip; 5 for one. Grant Flower twice gave run-out chances, once to Rennie's call and once to his own, but finally settled down with Carlisle to survive to the close, when he had 11 and Carlisle 15.