Date-stamped : 26 Dec96 - 02:16 24 December 1996 Inaugural Test had almost everything: despite ill feelings at end of historic contest Despite the acrimony at the end, the inaugural cricket Test between Zimbabwe and England which ended in a historic draw in Bulawayo on Sunday - the first draw in which the scores were lev- el - had almost everything. In a match which had as many twists and turns as a good Agatha Christie novel, one team dominated the other and a likely draw was turned into a more likely England win when the game was transformed into a rare one-day specatcle whose finish no one could fathom until the last ball was bowled. Led by a resolute century by vice-captain Andy Flower Zim- babwe held the upper hand on the opening two days and held it well into the third before their grip was loosened slowly and surely by Nasser Hussain and John Crawley. Both completed centuries, Hussain rather more fortuitous- ly after being dropped first ball by Stuart Carlisle, and helped England overhaul Zimbabwe`s first-innings score of 376 on the fourth day, finishing 30 runs to the good. With not much in it and a sedate draw on the cards the com- plexion of the match suddenly changed when Zimbabwe`s top- order buckled and at the end of the fourth day they were totter- ing on 107-5 in their second innings. The game had turned on its head; England had Zimbabwe against the ropes for the first time in the match and were sniff- ing victory. A brave rearguard action led by half centuries from debu- tant Andy Waller and Guy Whittall kept England out for almost three sessions on the final day before they were finally bowled out for 234. This left England needing 205 to win in 37 overs and a frenet- ic run-chase ensued. Despite losing captain Mike Atherton early England met the challenge head-on with a gallant second- wicket stand of 137 in almost even time between Alec Stewart and Nick Knight. To their credit Zimbabwe`s bolwers and fielders did not let their heads drop and frustrated the English no end with bowlers deliberately bowling wide and boundaries were hard to come by due to the deployment of their fielders on the boundary. The smart money was still on England who needed 59 off the last 10 overs with nine wickets in hand, but when Stewart fell for 73 off 74 balls in the 30th over the charge was checked by a clutter of wickets which followed. Still the scene was set for a nail-biting finale when the sixth- wicket pair of Knight and Darren Gough were tasked with scor- ing 13 off Heath Streak`s last over. Knight smashed the third ball for a six but, with three needed off the final delivery, he could only muster two with Gough easily run out going for what would have been the winning third run. It was an amazing finish to an extraordinary match. Pity then that there was ill feeling at the end of the contest. According to a Reuters report England coach David Lloyd said his team had dominated the game and was disgusted at Zimbabwe`s negative tactics in the final session. "We murdered them and they know it." "For them to have nine men on the boundary at the end was just not on. It might have been within the laws, but it wasn`t within the spirit of the game," said Lloyd. Campbell admistted that they had used defensive tactics. "If he wants to believe they murdered us then fine, but as far as I was concerned it was a good game of cricket. "Sure we used negative tactics in the final seesion, but you don`t throw a Test match away," said Campbell. Granted it may not have been good sportsmanship but Eng- land would have employed the same tactics had the shoe been on the other foot. Source :: The Herald (Harare) Contributed by Roger.Stringer (textpert@samara.co.zw)