OWN CORRESPONDENT, Nottingham | Monday 12.45pm.
ZIMBABWE made a stunning declaration on the fifth and final day of the second Test against England at Trent Bridge on Monday, closing their first innings 89 runs behind the home-side to force a result.
Following the loss of more than 137 overs in the first four days the Test was headed for a tame draw, but the Zimbabweans declared on their overnight 285 for four in reply to England’s 374 all out.
With a minimum of 90 overs to be bowled on the final day, England will be forced to set the visitors a sporting target to make a match of the rain-shortened Test.
England leads the two-match series 1-0 after cpmprehensively whipping Zimbabwe by an innings and 209-runs at Lord’s two weeks ago. Number-three Murray Goodwin top-scored for Zimbabwe with an unbeaten 148, his third Test century, which is also the highest for the country in an overseas Test.
Goodwin said that the ton, while not as fluent as his first hundred against Pakistan, lifted the team’s spirits, particularly in view of the problems in their home country.
Goodwin added that the team knuckled down to show the cricketing public that they are not the worst side in the world.
Neil Johnson and skipper Andy Flower contributed well, and scored 51 and 42 respectively, while helping Goodwin in two innings, building 100-plus stand for the third and fourth wickets.
Englands hostile seamer Darren Gough finished with England’s best figures, taking 3/66 in 20 overs.
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