Kent v Zimbabweans, Day 3
Once again the weather at Canterbury was cold and bleak, but Zimbabwe are capable of digging their own graves in any weather. This is basically what
they did against Kent, going down by the massive margin of an innings and 163 runs.
Zimbabwe could, had they wished, have complained of miserable weather, injuries, a couple of crucial and dubious umpiring decisions and some sheer bad luck, but for all this they would still have lost heavily. They virtually handed the match to Kent with their lack of professional application in their batting on the first day and their wayward bowling on the second. Perhaps the one positive factor to come out of this match for them has been the restoration of Neil Johnson's batting confidence.
The beleaguered team suffered a further blow to their resources overnight when it was learned that Heath Streak's knee was swollen and sore after his bowling yesterday, and it would have been foolish to risk his fitness by allowing him to take the field today. He may well struggle to recover by the First Test, less than two weeks away, from which his absence would be a
devastating blow to the side.
However they did have a major early boost as Rahul Dravid, without adding to his overnight 182, snicked Guy Whittall straight to Stuart Carlisle at first
slip in the fourth over of the day; Kent 386 for six. The team's jubilation at the dismissal of the Indian master after a virtually faultless innings the previous day showed their great respect for his ability, but it was to be virtually their only cause for celebration all day.
The Zimbabwe bowling was a little less ragged than it had been for much of the previous day, but there were still enough loose balls for Paul Nixon and Matthew Fleming to keep the scoreboard moving without undue risk. Fleming looked like racing Nixon to his fifty, but when on 38 he essayed a big drive at Mluleki Nkala and skyed the ball over the bowler's head; Johnson, running back from mid-on, took a superb running catch over his shoulder and Kent were 458 for seven. This slowed the scoring rate, and it took Nixon some
time to reach his fifty, which took him 125 balls; perhaps he should have
done better with a big lead and erratic bowling .
James Golding was in by now, playing some aggressive strokes, but Nixon's more laborious innings came to an end for 54 when he tried to turn a ball from Flower to leg, only to see it hit his pad and trickle on to his stumps. At this point, 487 for eight, with Golding on 18 and a lead of 328, Kent declared. Streak, missing from the third day, took two for 49; the rest of
the bowling figures were mostly unprintable, although Whittall took two wickets.
Zimbabwe had three overs to face before the lunch interval, the second being bowled by left-arm spinner Min Patel, perhaps to get in the third. Trevor
Gripper cut Patel powerfully for four, but Grant Flower, continuing his long nightmare form with the bat, was beaten more than once before getting a thin
edge to David Masters to be caught by wicket-keeper Nixon without scoring, virtually an identical dismissal to his duck at Southampton. The score at
lunch therefore was 4 for one, the runs all to Gripper.
The sun began slowly to come out after lunch, but it did not shine for Zimbabwe. Gripper and Murray Goodwin looked quite comfortable until Goodwin, pushing well forward to Masters, was given out lbw by umpire Jeremy Lloyds for 7; Zimbabwe 18 for two. Neither of these umpires, as Zimbabwe have found to their cost, have any compunctions about giving batsmen out lbw when playing well forward.
With the score on 24 came another controversial decision, as Gripper played forward to a ball from Patel that turned sharply and umpire Mike Harris
upheld the appeal for a catch at the wicket. Gripper was so disgusted that at first he refused to walk, but finally dragged himself off at a snail's pace.
Johnson played a couple of fine drives on the off side, his first runs of the tour after two ducks. But Zimbabwe's misfortunes continued, as Whittall (4) played back to a rising ball from Masters, only for Patel at third slip to take a brilliant diving catch to his right, and they were 32 for four.
Masters did not need the compliance of umpires or fielders for his next wicket, drawing Stuart Carlisle (1) forward with a full-length ball and knocking his off stump out of the ground; Zimbabwe now 34 for five.
Johnson and Dirk Viljoen groped and struggled, but were usually ready to score off the odd wayward ball. Masters eventually retired with the excellent figures of 11-6-13-4. Viljoen, after a slow start, pulled Patel high over midwicket for four and then swung him to deep square leg for another off the next ball, bringing up the 50. Then at the other end Johnson swung Scott high over midwicket for six and it appeared as if Zimbabwe were prepared to go down with all guns blazing after all.
Viljoen, however, fell in the same over for 16, wafting outside off stump to Scott and being superbly caught low down right-handed by Dravid at slip;
Zimbabwe 62 for six. Johnson continued to go for his strokes, but bad luck continued to dog the team; Taibu (3), playing at Scott, hit Ed Smith at short leg in the ribs, the fielder, who had half-turned away, clutched instinctively at the place of impact and remarkably caught it before it fell. Zimbabwe were 88 for seven.
Johnson brought up the hundred with a mighty pull over midwicket off Scott, then pulled another four to bring up his own fifty. Tea came at 107 for seven (Johnson 53, Nkala 3).
It was learned at tea that Streak would not be batting for Zimbabwe, but Mbangwa would - not that he often makes any significant difference when he carries an implement of willow in his hands. Despite the hopelessness of the situation, Johnson and Nkala applied themselves well after tea. Patel was aiming at Johnson's leg stump, giving him little chance to play his well-known extra-cover drives, but every now and then Johnson broke loose with a powerful straight drive. Nkala batted well in support, and also hit
Patel for two fours in an over.
Masters eventually claimed Johnson (70) as his fifth victim of the innings, pulling down a remarkable return catch high above his head as the batsman
drove straight, perhaps checking his stroke as he did so. Zimbabwe were 139 for eight as last man Mbangwa joined Nkala.
Unusually Mbangwa got off the mark first ball with a flick wide of midwicket for three, then Nkala pulled spectacularly for four. Going for broke, he drove a two then swung another four high to long leg, just avoiding the fielder and bringing up the 150. He drove Patel high over long-off for six, but then, driving again, snicked a catch to Alan Wells at slip and the match was over. Masters took five for 37; Patel, despite bowling unchanged throughout the innings, took just two for 82 off 25.4 overs, but deserved better.
Nkala made 40, Mbangwa was not out with 3, and Zimbabwe were all out for 165, losing by an innings and 163 runs with more than a day to spare. They
have a lot of hard work to do if they are to compete in the First Test; the talent is there but the confidence and application are sadly lacking.
