Date-stamped : 04 Oct97 - 06:09 HALF-TIME REPORT, FIRST ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND, at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Wednesday 1 October 1997, by John Ward Score to date: Zimbabwe 233/8. (No preview possible owing to traditional technical hitches) On a hot sunny day in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe won the toss and batted. They made four changes from their Test team, with Craig Evans, John Rennie, Eddo Brandes (fit again after injury) and Andrew Whittall coming in for Bryan Strang, Heath Streak (injured), Everton Matambanadzo and Adam Huckle. New Zealand made two changes, Craig McMillan and Gavin Larsen replacing Blair Pocock and David Sewell. Zimbabwe rather wasted their opportunities, and at the completion of their innings New Zealand must be considered favourites to score the necessary runs for victory. Gavin Rennie, opening the innings, was soon caught at first slip for 6, edging a lifting ball, his first failure as Zimbabwe's opener. Alistair Campbell, back in his usual position at three, scored only 5 runs before flicking at a rising ball from O'Connor and edging a catch to the keeper. Then came the only major partnership of the innings, as the Flower brothers, after a steady start, began to dominate the bowling. They put on 77 together in 19 overs, and progress was looking good until Andy, trying to run a ball from Larsen to third man, chopped the ball on to his off stump. Guy Whittall, after watching the ball carefully for a few balls, then began to play some superb strokes, especially the pull. He hit a fine six over midwicket, but tried it once too often and was very well caught by Craig Spearman near the midwicket boundary. Grant Flower immediately afterwards got a top edge trying to sweep, having made the top score again of 66, which left Dave Houghton and Craig Evans together at the crease and needing to build a stand. This partnership looked like developing until Evans tried a suicidal second run to a shot to third man and was unnecessarily run out, a real waste of a wicket. He had earlier hit a six over midwicket. Houghton had a bit of luck, narrowly escaping a possible run-out when the camera proved inadequate for the job, and then being dropped near the midwicket boundary. He played some superb strokes, though, including a massive six from a pull to a ball outside off stump, but again perished when looking well set, skying a catch to cover for 40. Eddo Brandes, who it was hoped would raise the scoring rate, made only a single before being yorked. Paul Strang and John Rennie were left to squeeze as many runs as they could from the last few overs, which was not easy under these circumstances. Rennie had a fine burst of 4, 2 and 4 off Lance Cairns, but Zimbabwe's total was disappointing in the fine batting conditions. The New Zealand bowling was steady and accurate, and not a single wide was bowled, while their fielding was generally good, with occasional flashes of brilliance. They are a very effective, workmanlike one-day team, and Zimbabwe will have to fight hard to win this match now. FINAL REPORT Final score: Zimbabwe 233/8; New Zealand 233/8. Match tied. For most of the afternoon, Zimbabwe appeared to have this match sewn up after an indifferent batting display by the New Zealand top-order batsmen. Then, once again, Zimbabwe let things slip, New Zealand's usual resilience in the lower order shone through, and the tourists snatched a thrilling tie. It spoilt things, though, that two seven-ball vers were permitted in the New Zealand innings, and the two extra balls allowed them one vital extra run. John Rennie gave Zimbabwe a fine start to the afternoon session by taking the wickets of both openers cheaply. Craig Spearman slashed the second ball of the innings, from Eddo Brandes, to the cover boundary, but in the next over edged a catch to the keeper trying to run the ball down to third man. Nathan Astle, opening with him, was soon caught at slip playing rather tentatively towards the covers. Early in the innings, there were several minor Zimbabwean misfields and, although they fielded superbly later on, every little error was to prove crucial -- including those of the umpires' calculators. Matthew Horne stood firm and played well, but he was to receive less than his fair share of the bowling. Stephen Fleming enjoyed the bowling of Guy Whittall, but after hitting two easy fours he was caught at the wicket off a crossbat slash. In the next over Chris Cairns reduced Whittall's figures to an interesting 2-0-25-1. Cairns, however, became too reckless: having got away with a skier to deep midwicket just beyond the fielder's reach, he hit an even higher ball to long-off, where Eddo Brandes hardly had to move. Craig McMillan did not last long, run out attempting a second run to a hit from Horne to deep square leg, while Adam Parore was bowled round his legs, sweeping. When Horne himself was superbly run out by Paul Strang's throw to the bowler's end, New Zealand looked dead and buried. Zimbabwe appeared to relax, as they have done before to their cost, and it again proved fatal. Chris Harris was still there, although batting slowly to start with, and the arrival of Daniel Vettori at the batting crease should have reminded Zimbabwe of how these two had stopped them winning the Test. Now they were to play a part in doing it again. With enterprising hitting and good running, they kept their team not too far behind the required rate until Vettori was run out attempting a quick single. Gavin Larsen is an excellent batsman to have coming in at ten, and he hit well while Harris opened up powerfully. 24 were needed off the final two overs, and 15 off the last over, to be bowled by John Rennie. He began with a wide to Harris, and then both batsmen took quick singles. Then Harris hit a powerful four over extra cover, and Zimbabwe were in real danger. He followed it with a 2 and a 4, leaving one to tie and two to win. As he drove the last ball past the bowler, the Bulawayo crowd did their city no credit whatsoever by bursting on to the field like a horde of savages. Had the ball reached the mob, it would have cost them the game. Fortunately Craig Evans got it first, threw in and ran out Larsen attempting the winning second run. Moments later the field was a disgraceful scene of uncontrolled people, mostly children, fighting for the stumps. Once again Zimbabwe let slip a favourable situation, and once again New Zealand, although clearly the less talented team, hauled themselves out of a tight spot with a strong fighting spirit. The final two matches at Harare over the weekend could be equally exciting, and perhaps by then Zimbabwe will have learnt never to release for a moment the pressure on the jugular. Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)