New Zealand won the Second Test against Zimbabwe by eight wickets at Harare Sports Club today, with 3.4 overs to spare, despite a magnificent fighting innings of 188 not out by Guy Whittall that came so close to saving the match.

Resuming at the overnight score of 228 for five, Whittall and Streak continued their fighting partnership, stoutly resisting all that New Zealand could throw at them. Early on both played uppish strokes in the gully area that just evaded fielders and there were a couple of confident appeals that were not quite there, but fortune again favoured the brave. New Zealand scarcely fell from the high standard they had displayed throughout their tour, but were unable to break through. The century partnership came up just before lunch, and it was noted that since the same time yesterday Zimbabwe had lost only one wicket.

They survived until the third new ball. It almost accounted for Streak immediately, as Astle at second slip just failed to hold on to a hard high chance, and the two runs taken enabled him to pass his previous Test best of 53. But once again he failed to get much beyond 50, trapped lbw back on the crease by Cairns for 54, and Zimbabwe were 330 for six after a partnership of 151, just short of Zimbabwe's all-time Test record for the sixth wicket of 165 by Dave Houghton and Andy Flower in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test match.

Nkala, well forward, was controversially adjudged lbw to O’Connor by umpire Shepherd for a pair, and when Strang (8) was yorked by Cairns Zimbabwe were 348 for eight. Olonga (0) fell lbw to O’Connor a run later. Whittall tried to farm the bowling, with some success, but with some defensive help from Mbangwa managed to hold out until a delayed tea was taken with nine wickets down.

Third ball after tea, a hopeless mix-up in looking for a second run brought about the third run-out and a farcical end to the innings at 370, Mbangwa (5) being sent back but failing to beat Nash’s direct hit on the stumps. Whittall was left unbeaten with his magnificent 188, in 472 minutes, more than half the total. This ended Zimbabwe's hopes of winning the match, as New Zealand needed only 72 to win in a minimum of 18 overs.

Parore opened for New Zealand with Spearman in place of Richardson, who had injured a finger in the field. Spearman fell for two, pulling Streak towards the midwicket boundary where Rennie ran in to take a good diving catch; 4 for one. Parore and Sinclair handled their task well, with good running and firmly struck boundaries, until Parore (13) mistimed a cut to be caught at backward point by Carlisle off Streak. Cairns came in to play some powerful strokes, including a one-handed six over long leg off Mbangwa, and finished unbeaten on 19, while Sinclair had paced his innings superbly for 35 runs. The final total was 74 for two.

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