Zimbabwe finally in full flow

Alistair Campbell began Zimbabwe's tour of England with a century as the tourists finally gained some useful time at the crease against Hampshire at Southampton. They had feared their preparations for the opening Test at Lord's on May 18 would be undermined by the wet weather sweeping the country and waited anxiously as Friday's play was wiped out by steady drizzle. Once the run-ups finally dried out just after lunch on the third day, however, Campbell and Murray Goodwin were able to propel them to a commanding 281 for six in reply to Hampshire's 131, having resumed on 19 for one.

Helped by Hampshire's desire to give their first choice attack the game off - they rested Shane Warne, Alan Mullally, Peter Hartley, Shaun Udal and Dimitri Mascarenhas - the Zimbabweans are likely to be given more serious examinations during their tour. For now, though, they will be delighted that two of their leading batsmen have scored runs while opener Trevor Gripper occupied the crease for over two hours in making a laborious 24.

"The important thing is to get used to batting in these conditions because, in our recent history, we have struggled in that department," said coach Andy Pycroft. "It was important a couple of our batsmen got decent scores and a couple of the others occupied the crease for some time because the sooner we get used to the conditions the better."

They had looked at ease as soon as play resumed and, but for an impressive spell from debutant left-arm spinner Charles Van der Gucht, could have piled up an even more impressive total.

The 20-year-old was brought into the attack to stem the flow of runs from Goodwin's bat after he had raced to his half-century off just 75 balls and hammered five boundaries in one over from seamer Simon Francis. He ended the 103-run second wicket partnership by tempting Gripper, who had been dropped on six by Jason Laney at third slip, into a rare attacking stroke when he marched down the pitch and his attempted drive over the top looped to Lee Savident.

Six overs later, Goodwin miscued a pull straight to Alex Morris at mid-on to fall 30 runs short of what had seemed a certain century.

Van der Gucht completed his memorable entry into first class cricket by dismissing Stuart Carlisle. His lofted drive was collected by Simon Renshaw to earn Van der Gucht impressive figures of 11-5-28- 3 at tea. Renshaw also struck before the interval to dismiss Neil Johnson, caught by Laney at slip to leave the Zimbabweans on a shaky 144 for five.

Campbell and Guy Whittall staged the middle order recovery by adding 66 in 30 overs as Hampshire's inexperienced attack tired. Whittall finally fell to seamer Renshaw, pushing forward and edging behind to wicketkeeper Derek Kenway, but Campbell marched on untroubled to score Zimbabwe's first century of the tour with his 12th boundary. He finished unbeaten on 108 while 16-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Tatena Taibu progressed to five to put Zimbabwe in a strong position to complete a welcome victory.

"Practice is important, but winning is more important and we'll be pressing to win the game," said Pycroft. "It doesn't matter if it's a Test match or just a tour game, we want to win to get back into the habit."

Not surprisingly, with so much time lost on the first three days, Somerset's game with Surrey petered out into a tame draw at Taunton. With bonus points to be won, Marcus Trescothick (85), Mike Burns (81) and Peter Bowler (37) made light work of the Surrey pace attack as they set up a good platform for a big score. Somerset finished on 302 for eight, but leg-spinner Ian Salisbury checked their progress with a fine unbroken spell of 24 overs either side of the tea interval finishing with three for 56.

Resuming on 15 for two, after half an hour was lost at the start of the day, Bowler and Trescothick took their third-wicket stand to 86 before Bowler was adjudged lbw in the penultimate over before lunch with former Somerset paceman Ian Bishop the successful bowler.

With Trescothick in commanding form after a slow start, the Surrey pace attack found the going tough on a good Taunton wicket, and with Mike Burns also taking up the attack, runs flowed in the middle session.

It was the introduction of Salisbury that brought Surrey their rewards. After Trescothick and Burns had taken their partnership to 128, Trescothick played a loose drive and holed out to Alistair Brown at mid-on. In his next over, Salisbury saw Rob Turner top edge to short fine leg where Alex Tudor recovered to take a fine catch .

Those wickets seemed to encourage the erratic Tudor who then induced an edge from Ian Blackwell. Graham Thorpe, who had twice dropped chances offered by Burns when he had scored nine and 57, held on and the home side had suddenly lost three wickets for seven runs in seven overs.Burns became Salisbury's third victim when he shuffled across his stumps to be trapped lbw and Caddick departed before the end as Adam Hollioake ripped out his off stump.

When proceedings were finally halted deep into the last hour with eight balls remaining, Graham Rose (37 not out) had ensured that Somerset passed 300 to gain three batting bonus points to add to their maximum three bowling points. In total Somerset take 10 points from the game, Surrey six.

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