Chris Mpofu took 4-92 and Vusi Sibanda hit an unbeaten half-century to spearhead Zimbabwe's fightback against New Zealand on day two of the one-off Test Wednesday. Opener Sibanda was 53 not out to guide Zimbabwe to 82-1 at stumps at Queens Sports Club, 344 runs behind New Zealand's first-innings 426 all out. Mpofu was instrumental in dragging New Zealand back after the tourists were 275-3 at the start of the day and then 401-5 and on course for an ominous score. The seamer took career-best innings figures, and Sibanda followed up with a steady start to keep Zimbabwe in the game in its third test since returning from a six-year absence from the five-day format. New Zealand is playing its first Test since February and looking for a first win since early 2010. “I think we more than performed today,” said Zimbabwe coach Alan Butcher. “Getting eight wickets for about 164 and being 82-1, I think we won the day but there is three days to go. Winning one day is not enough. We still have a lot of work to do, but this guy (Mpofu) was terrific throughout his spells.” For New Zealand, skipper Ross Taylor made 76, Dean Brownlie 63, BJ Watling (39) and former skipper Daniel Vettori (40). “We are happy with what we have on the board,” Brownlie said. “Now we have to take 20 wickets, whether we bat again or not.”
