Match abandoned - rain (16.45 BST)

The rain continued to fall on the reserve day of New Zealand's match with Zimbabwe, not a ball was bowled with the Kiwis needing a further 106 runs with 7 wickets and 35 overs remaining. Both sides take a point each from the game - a further 10 overs of the New Zealand innings would have been needed for the Duckworth/Lewis system to come into effect.

Day 2 Prospects of Play (10.40 BST)

This is the England we all know and love so well: leaden grey sky and the lightest of drizzles, which means that EEC regulations (or some similar drivel) will prevent the umpires from considering a start. Covers are on the square and five members of the ground staff are out there trying not to look bored. Spectators are pouring into the ground in their ones and twos, and there must be at least fifty on the premises now, huddled at the backs of the stands. There is no prospect of play in the foreseeable future, and less still of any streakers.

Zimbabwe 175, New Zealand 70/3 (Fleming 9*, Twose 0*) off 14.5 overs (7.09 BST)

Fleming clipped Guy Whittall handsomely to the midwicket boundary to get off the mark, but New Zealand had for the present lost their momentum, and Campbell recalled Streak to bowl in place of Whittall. He soon struck as McMillan moved across his stumps, played down the wrong line and was trapped lbw. He scored only 1, and New Zealand were 65 for three. Zimbabwe were suddenly playing with much greater purpose again.

Olonga was bowling well, if not quite at full pace, and keeping Fleming on the defensive, twice playing and missing in an over and snicking a ball just short of second slip. Eventually the umpires, who obviously hadn't been at Southampton for Sri Lanka against Kenya last Sunday, decided the light was inadequate and removed the players from the field, with little apparent prospect of a resumption the same day.

Zimbabwe 175, New Zealand 59/2 (McMillan 0*, Fleming 0*) off 10 overs (18.41 BST)

New Zealand seemed keen to finish the match the same evening when Horne drove Streak superbly on the up through extra cover for another boundary, turned him for another four past square leg, and then cracked him through the covers for a third. The score was now 43 off six overs. Guy Whittall quickly replaced Johnson, and apart from a three to midwicket bowled accurately and forced the batsmen on the defensive. Streak also was whipped off for Olonga as Zimbabwe knew they had few runs to play with if they wanted a breakthrough. Horne however lofted him over mid-on almost for six and then pulled him to the deep square-leg boundary. He lost patience against Whittall, though, tried to swing him across the line and was lbw for 35. New Zealand were now 58 for one. Astle was subdued enough to play Olonga with much more care before lashing him into the covers - and this time finding the fielder, as Streak gained revenge by diving to his left and hanging on to a superb catch. Astle made 20, and New Zealand were now 59 for two, the score having increased by a no-ball.

Zimbabwe 175, New Zealand 30/0 (Horne 13*, Astle 15*) off 5 overs (18.16 BST)

New Zealand opened with two out-of-form batsmen in Horne and Astle; in Johnson's first over Astle lashed a ball uppishly into the covers and was perhaps very lucky to find the gap and register a boundary. Next over he did exactly the same against Streak, and it seemed as if one side was getting all the luck - not that the other had done very much to deserve it. In the following over Horne flicked Johnson into the vacant area over the square leg umpire for four, then pumped Streak to the cover boundary, and it seemed that both were hitting their way back to form.

The Zimbabweans seemed to be lacking the purpose and sparkle they showed against South Africa, and it appeared that fears of nerves taking over in the Super Six were proving only too true. Johnson had a close lbw appeal against Horne rejected before fine fielding from Huckle saved a boundary wide of mid-on. However, Astle finished Johnson's over with a clip to the midwicket boundary.

Zimbabwe 175 all out (49 overs) (17.48 BST)

Carlisle, who has not distinguished himself recently in the last few overs of the innings, found it hard to get moving, and eventually swung Astle, replacing Allott temporarily, high towards cow-shot corner, where McMillan took the catch running round. He had scored 2, and Zimbabwe were 154 for six.

Zimbabwe have no Klusener, with the absent Brandes the nearest they have to a lower-order hitter. Streak does not really fit that role, and struggled to move the ball around much at all, before losing patience and his wicket, bowled by a quick off-cutter from Cairns. Zimbabwe might have considered sending in Olonga, who can hit although not often getting away with bit; instead they preferred Andrew Whittall, a much better batsman but no hitter. Once again they were right off track in the last overs of an innings.

Predictably Andrew struggled to get the score moving, but when he did manage a single Guy boosted the total with a leg-glance-cum- snick that beat the keeper and reached the boundary. Then, going for another big hit, he holed out to Astle at extra cover for 21. Zimbabwe were 174 for eight, soon to be nine down without further addition as Huckle tamely offered a catch off the thick outside edge to Twose at backward point.

The innings quickly came to a miserable conclusion as, after a single by Olonga who might have been the only one of the last three with the initiative to reach the boundary, Whittall miscued an attempted big hit and Astle gratefully accepted the offering at deepish mid-on. He made 3, and Zimbabwe petered out for 175. Admittedly batting was not easy, with the ball probably soft after running over the wet outfield and the bowlers moving it around in helpful conditions, but it was another incompetent display by the lower order.

Zimbabwe 150-5 (G Whittall 8*, Carlisle 0*) off 43 overs (17.11 BST)

Play resumed at 4.45, with Harris bowling to Goodwin. Two singles came before Goodwin tried to swing him over long-on and was rather belatedly given out caught at the wicket by umpire Venkat. The television replay did not seem to confirm the decision. This was a crucial wicket for New Zealand, as Zimbabwe were now 136 for four, with Goodwin out for 57. Once again Harris had struck against Zimbabwe.

Guy Whittall was eager to get the score moving, and especially by sweeping Harris, who had an lbw appeal rejected, as did Astle at the other end. Allott returned to the bowling crease, after opening with 6 overs for 10 runs and two wickets. Whittall was obliged to play his left-arm-over deliveries on the leg side, while Campbell produced what was for him an almost unheard-of inelegant cow- shot to mid-on for a single.

Larsen took over at the Rugby Stand end and, with his bowling over the wicket, Campbell found him awkward. He soon became frustrated, tried to loft him over midwicket, and instead skyed an easy catch to Nash at mid-on, walking off before it was even completed. He had made 40, and Zimbabwe had lost the advantage of that dogged partnership, now 149 for five, with a total of 200 looking unlikely.

Zimbabwe 134/3 (Goodwin 56*, Campbell 33*) off 36 overs (15.45 BST)

Goodwin finally scampered a single to bring him his first fifty for many a long moon (after numerous teens, twenties and thirties), off 83 balls Campbell then broke his shackles by lofting Nash for a drive wide of mid-on that was only inches short of a six, and Goodwin finally found one from Astle to cut to the boundary. At this point a light drizzle started again, intensified, and the players again left the field. After five minutes' indecision as the drizzle lightened but refused to depart, it was decided to bring on the covers again. New Zealanders are much more familiar with these conditions than Zimbabweans, so Zimbabwe did well to play through the session without losing any further wickets, even though they lost ground as far as the scoring rate was concerned. At least they now have a platform for a final assault, if or when the weather relents.

Zimbabwe 116-3 (Goodwin 47*, Campbell 27*) off 33 overs (drinks break) (15.25 BST)

Astle came on to replace Nash, who was to change ends, and the batsmen again found it difficult to keep the score moving, managing only a single. A stolen single finally brought up the hundred, then Nash produced a beautiful ball that jagged back on Campbell from outside off stump, through the gate, and just missed leg. Goodwin finally reached the forties, but was showing signs of frustration, while Campbell too found runs hard to come by. They could probably keep out such seemingly innocuous bowling all day, but scoring off it was another matter. There were wide open spaces over the bowler's head, but neither batsman seemed inclined to take advantage of them.

Another sharp off-cutter from Nash beat Campbell, flicking the top of the pad, high up, and having the bowler appealing for lbw or caught at the wicket - either would have done, but neither was. Campbell hit Astle for two through the covers, evoking a noisy response to the crowd for such a profitable stroke. He then lashed out at a ball from Nash outside off stump, only for the ball to skitter off the inside edge to square leg for a single - to his relief, as for an instant he was afraid he had played it on.

The batsmen finally began to get the hang of nudging for singles and began to score with more regularity, although Nash had another lbw appeal, quite close this time, turned down against Campbell with another fierce off-cutter.

Zimbabwe 97/3 (Goodwin 39*, Campbell 19*) off 25 overs (14.56 BST)

Campbell flashed at a short lifting ball outside the off stump from Cairns and was immediately angry with himself. He may be vulnerable to carelessness when the going is good, but he rarely throws his wicket away in tight situations. Goodwin became rather bogged down on 27, the sort of score at which he regularly seems to get out these days, but eventually moved on with a mistimed cut.

Cairns experienced a bit of trouble with his footholds, producing a no-ball and a wide before stuffing the crease with sawdust. Campbell tried to put him into the stand behind long-on, but only got a thick edge on to the pad.

The batsmen settled back into their routine of pushing for ones and twos, but accurate bowling did not give them many opportunities and the scoring rate dropped below four an over. They still had to face the hovering slow medium-pacers of Harris and Astle that tied them down in the past. Goodwin again got stuck on 31, but seemed determined not to yield his wicket yet again after doing all the hard work.

Harris came on for Cairns and immediately had Campbell straining with frustration at his inability to hit the ball off the square. Goodwin finally had more luck with Larsen, pulling him over midwicket for a one-bounce four, but could do little with the other five balls. Both batsmen then went after Harris, who was smashed all over the square, conceding five runs in a nightmare over.

Zimbabwe 70/3 (Goodwin 24*, Campbell 12*) off 16 overs (14.20 BST)

Play finally restarted at 2 p.m., after a lot of rain and a lot of overtime by the water hog. Larsen immediately replaced Nash at the Rugby Stand end, and Cairns, using his short run-up, came on for Allott at the Kirkstall Lane End. There was almost a run-out off Cairns' first ball, as the keeper ran to cut off a rebound off Campbell's pad, and Campbell decided on a run just as Goodwin decided to go back. The fielding was not sharp enough to cause a problem, though. Later that over, Campbell flicked a ball high and neatly to long leg for the first four since the resumption.

Runs came fairly comfortably, and soon Goodwin registered a boundary, Cairns making a valiant but vain effort to catch a cut off Larsen. Cairns, however, tied Campbell down with a maiden over to complete the first fifteen.

Zimbabwe 47/3 (Goodwin 13*, Campbell 2*) off 10.4 overs (11.38 BST)

Allott struck another crucial blow for New Zealand when he surprised Andy Flower with lift, and the ball lobbed off his glove for McMillan to run round from the gully and take an easy catch. Flower failed to score, and Zimbabwe were 45 for three, with nerves starting to crack. Campbell, who often thrives in a crisis but has not made runs so far on this tour, came in and was immediately under way with a two to fine leg.

Almost immediately, though, the rain, which had eased off, returned in a flurry, sending the entire cast sprinting from the field and the ground staff sprinting on with the covers. The sun is the batsman's chief ally at Headingley; Zimbabwe made rather poor use of it and the signs are that they may have lost their chance through nerves. No quick resumption of play appeared likely.

Zimbabwe 45/2 (Goodwin 13*, A Flower 0*) off 10 overs (11.29 BST)

Johnson continued to take most of the honours in his personal battle against Nash, pulling him for another boundary, but Nash showed he is by no means without defence by testing and two or three times beating him with fine moving deliveries just outside off stump, just short of driving length. Neither batsman felt able to take liberties with Allott, one of the tournament's top bowlers, but Zimbabwe enjoyed an unearned bonus when Nash beat Goodwin outside the off stump, Parore fended the ball off his face, but it ricocheted off his gloves for four byes. No runs were scored off the rest of the over, Nash bowling well while enjoying a reprieve with Johnson stuck at the bowler's end.

Johnson soon lost the strike, finally striking Allott away for three to deep point, but regained it after a single from Goodwin. But then Allott finally got his man as Johnson, perhaps a little impatient against him after his success against Nash, tried a drive against a straight ball, only to play it on to his stumps through the gate. Zimbabwe were 35 for two, with Johnson out for 25 off 32 balls.

A quick change in the weather to something more akin to the forecast resulted in a light drizzle starting, but the players stayed on, with a rejuvenated Nash testing Goodwin, who finally got him away with a cover drive to the boundary, and then pulled another four over square leg without timing it properly. An uppish cut to third man for two showed his desire to dominate the bowling, but as yet not very securely.

Zimbabwe 22/1 (Johnson 18*, Goodwin 1*) off 5 overs (11.08 BST)

Zimbabwe were immediately under way with a leg-bye. Chris Harris quickly got into the act as usual against his favourite opposition, with a superb save at point off a square drive by Flower. He nearly did better off Nash's first ball, diving in vain as Johnson square-cut uppishly, but just out of even his reach; next ball Johnson drove through extra cover for another start and Zimbabwe were well away. A better length just outside off stump kept Johnson quiet for the rest of the over, though.

Then came a magic moment from New Zealand, as Johnson turned a ball wide of Horne at square leg, only for the fielder to recover brilliantly and throw the stumps down with Flower inches from safety. He scored only 1, and Zimbabwe were 10 for one.

Johnson, although visibly upset by the run-out, recovered his composure to drive Nash to the extra-cover boundary again, followed by a pull to midwicket for another four. Larsen dived gallantly and half-stopped the ball at extra cover to turn a potential third boundary in the same over into a two. Allott managed to keep Johnson much quieter, as he managed only a leg-bye after Goodwin got off the mark with a single to third man.

Headingley, pre-match (10.40 BST)

On an unexpectedly sunny morning in Leeds, Alistair Campbell won the toss for Zimbabwe and decided to bat on a hard brown pitch that looked good for runs. The teams were as follows:

New Zealand: Nathan Astle, Matthew Horne, Craig McMillan, Roger Twose, Stephen Fleming (capt), Adam Parore, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Dion Nash, Gavin Larsen, Geoff Allott.

Zimbabwe: Neil Johnson, Grant Flower, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower, Alistair Campbell (capt), Guy Whittall, Stuart Carlisle, Heath Streak, Andrew Whittall, Adam Huckle, Henry Olonga.

Zimbabwe were well pleased to win the toss, with high scores predicted, but the crucial factor will be whether their nerve can hold in the rarified atmosphere of the Super Six. They looked very sharp during their pre-match practice, but the underlying tension was obvious. New Zealand will be looking for a quick breakthrough, knowing the loss of early wickets will be the best way to take advantage of their nerves. A good start, on the other hand, would help to settle the entire side. In Johnson and Grant Flower Zimbabwe have two batsmen who can handle pressure well, and much depends on their performance. The first hour could go a long way to deciding the match.