Live Cricket Score of Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, 2nd Test, Day 3 at Bulawayo

Hello and welcome to Day 3 of the second Test match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe at the Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo. After a tough day for bowlers on Day 2, where only two wickets fell, the visitors will be hoping for a more success on the third day. Even as they lead Zimbabwe by 527 runs, getting wickets on this track will be difficult. Chamu Chibaba and Tino Mawoyo played slowly, but well in the final session on Sunday. Will be interesting to see what approach they take on Monday.

Zimbabwe were off to a steady start, presenting a dead bat to the New Zealand pace pair of Tim Southee and Trent Boult. The field set isn't as aggressive as it was yesterday, but they still have a man stationed at short mid on. It took a moment of indecisiveness by Tino Mawoyo for New Zealand to get their first scalp. He looked to play at a delivery outside the off-stump, before deciding to leave it. He ended up getting an inside edge that hit the bails.

New Zealand pacers have bowled well in unhelpful conditions. Trent Boult has got the ball to reverse swing, yorked the batsman and did everything to trouble them. But both Chamu Chibaba and Sikandar Raza have done well to avoid any damage. Meanwhile, Chibaba has raced away to a half century

Neil Wagner's persistence pays off as he tricks Sikandar Raza into staying back at the crease with a few short-pitched deliveries. Wagner follows up a bouncer with a full pitched delivery angling across. Raza is late into the drive and ends up edging it to Kane Williamson at gully

A fine innings by Chamu Chibaba comes to an end as he is teased to go for a drive off a dipping delivery and he goes for a drive. Kane Williamson takes a superb diving catch at short cover to send the third Zimbabwean back to the pavilion at the stroke of Tea. The morning session was a struggle for the bowlers, but they would be happy with the final outcome.of the session.

Another soft dismissal. Prince Masvaure plays an innocuous delivery back into the stumps. Zimbabwe lose their fourth wicket, Mitchell Santner gets his second. Wickets are falling slowly and after a lot of struggle, but they are falling. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe batsmen seem in no mood to challenge New Zealand's first innings total. They are happy playing out the overs.

It has become quite obvious by now that the two teams contesting in the match have different challenges. Only half way into the five-day encounter, Zimbabwe are playing for a draw. There is no intent to attack, no intent to challenge New Zealand. The visitors, meanwhile, are going the extra yard to earn every wicket. Sean Williams tried to be a bit fancy by attempting a reverse sweep off Ish Sodhi, and it ended up proving counter-productive. The left-hander was trapped in front of the wicket.

Craig Ervine (48 not out) and Peter Moor (25 not out) have continued the dead bat approach as Zimbabwe go to Tea on 185 for 5. There are quite a few more interesting things happening around in the world at the moment.

Sean Ervine and Peter Moor have done well to keep the New Zealand bowlers at bay. They have also been a far more enterprising with thier stroke-making, in context to the Zimbabwean innings. Moor has brought up a half century on his Test debut.

Craig Ervine has brought up his maiden Test ton with a superb boundary. This has been a wonderfully constructed knock after being dropped early on in the innings by Ross Taylor.

Yet again, with a session drawing to a close, a wicket falls. Peter Moor, who scored a brilliant half century on debut ended up pulling a long hop to Martin Guptill at short mid wicket. Having played wonderfully till now, he has thrown it away. If New Zealand manage to bag another wicket now, they would be happy with their performance.

Zimbabwe would be happy with their performance on Day 2. After a lackluster display in the first two sessions, the sixth wicket stand between Craig Ervine and Peter Moor helped add some entertainment to the innings. Zimbabwe managed to put on 120 runs in the final session. Only six wickets fell on Day 3.Will they be able to avoid a follow on? Will they be able to overhaul New Zealand's first innings total? We will find out tomorrow.