Zimbabwe produced a spirited fightback on day two to get themselves right back into their one-off Test with New Zealand in Bulawayo.
Mpofu and Sibanda star as hosts battle back in Bulawayo
Fast bowler Chris Mpofu and opening batsman Vusi Sibanda led the way as Zimbabwe launched a spirited fightback on the second day of the one-off Test against New Zealand in Bulawayo.
New Zealand had looked set to post an imposing total after reaching 401-5 midway through the afternoon session, but they suffered a dramatic collapse to 426 all out, with Mpofu claiming four of the seven Black Caps wickets to fall on Wednesday.
Sibanda (53 not out) then took centre stage as Zimbabwe started their first innings, scoring an unbeaten half-century to lead the home side to 82-1 by the close of play.
Hamilton Masakadza was also there on 22 not out after Zimbabwe had lost Tino Mawoyo for five.
New Zealand started the day in a strong position on 275-3 but, after a rain-delayed start, they suffered an early blow when captain Ross Taylor was dismissed in the second over by Test debutant Njabulo Ncube without adding to his overnight score of 76.
Taylor flashed at a wide half-volley from the 22-year-old paceman and edged a catch through to wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva.
That brought in another Test newcomer, Dean Brownlie, and he added a patient 45 for the fifth wicket in 21 overs with BJ Watling before Zimbabwe struck again to dismiss the latter for 39, Chakabva taking an edge off Mpofu.
Solid sixth-wicket stand
New Zealand avoided any more scares before going to lunch on 327-5 and the 27-year-old Brownlie and Daniel Vettori then looked to be batting their side back into control with a sixth-wicket stand of 81.
That took the Black Caps past 400, but the dismissal of Brownlie for 63, caught at first slip off the bowling of Ray Price, began a slide that saw the visitors lose their final five wickets for just 25 runs.
Vettori was snared by Mpofu for 40, while Doug Bracewell (nought), Jeetan Patel (12) and Chris Martin (nought) failed to hang around for long as the tail folded in rapid fashion.
When Zimbabwe came out to bat, Bracewell - one of five players making their Test debuts in the match - kept the home side's openers in check as he bowled six successive maidens at the start of his spell.
Bracewell was unable to make a breakthrough during that period, but spinner Vettori looked an immediate threat after coming on in the 11th over and, after two big lbw appeals in the previous four balls, he trapped Mawoyo leg-before with the fifth delivery of his second over to earn New Zealand their first breakthrough.
However, that was the only wicket the visitors could claim as Sibanda and Masakadza shared an unbroken 58-run stand to guide Zimbabwe through to the close, trailing New Zealand by 344 runs.
