Close - Zimbabwe 96 for 3 (Masakadza 42*, A Flower 14*). Match drawn.
As they finally pulled the plug at Bulawayo, there was a gigantic gurgle of relief from the players, the crowd, the city. Was this the most boring match in Test history? Probably not, but in an unforgettably tragic week it will soon be consigned to the shadows. In the final minutes of the afternoon there was time just for Hamilton Masakadza to draw back the curtains on his wares. He finished undefeated on 42, which included seven fours - hit behind square and driven through the covers with the sweetness of condensed milk. He also revealed raw power by slogging Claude Henderson, the sole wicket-taker in Zimbabwe's second innings, for six. 4.28pm - Zimbabwe 58 for 3 (Masakadza 18*) trail South Africa (519 for 8 dec) by 42 runs
Two more quick wickets for Claude Henderson put Zimbabwe in a spot of bother, and made Shaun Pollock long for what might have been - if only Jacques Kallis had got a move on with the bat. Alistair Campbell was caught by Boeta Dippenaar for a classy 20 which had included four fours (38 for 2), and then Stuart Carlisle, who had dabbled around while Hamilton Masakadza clubbed Lance Klusener for three fours, swept at Henderson and gave Makhaya Ntini an easy catch at square leg. The game was suddenly an all-action extravaganza.

3.38pm - Zimbabwe 29 for 1 (Campbell 17*, Masakadza 0*) trail South Africa (519 for 8 dec) by 79 runs
Zimbabwe saw off Shaun Pollock and Andre Nel only for Claude Henderson to make the breakthrough in his very first over, when he bowled Dion Ebrahim for four (21 for 1). Alistair Campbell riposted with two consecutive fours off Makhaya Ntini and did his best to keep the spectators awake.

Tea - South Africa 519 for 8 dec (Kallis 189*) lead Zimbabwe (419 for 9 dec) by 100 runs
The flurry of quick runs was followed by a flurry of quick wickets, and Bulawayo caught its breath after a rush of unexpected action.

First Mark Boucher, following Shaun Pollock's swashbucking lead, took a wild swing at Travis Friend and was bowled for 14 (513 for 7), then Claude Henderson misjudged another from Friend that seamed in and watched his stumps scatter - he was yet to make a run. This signalled the end of the innings - one that had provided more entertainment in the final hour than in most of the rest of the match put together. The man who held South Africa together was Jacques Kallis, whose 189 not out was a personal milestone - his highest Test score - but a millstone for the crowd who could have got more entertainment from watching the rain fall on the second day.

The other happy bunny was Ray Price, whose poverty-striken first Test has been replaced by the riches of 5 for 181 here.

2.32pm - South Africa 513 for 6 (Kallis 183*, Boucher 14*) lead Zimbabwe (419 for 9 dec) by 95 runs
Suddenly Bulawayo was alive with the sound of leather being whalloped, as Shaun Pollock got stuck into Zimbabwe's bowling. He had made 41, including five fours and one enormous six, before he flicked Price to backward point where Stuart Carlisle took a fantastic diving catch (490 for 6). What was even more extraordianary was that he inspired Kallis to move his feet and smash Grant Flower for a monumental six. Price had picked up his five for but Zimbabwe were looking weary 1.05pm - South Africa 420 for 5 (Kallis 147*, Pollock 1*) lead Zimbabwe (419 for 9 dec) by 1 run
And another wicket for Ray Price - but this was one that the crowd won't thank him for. Lance Klusener had just got into his stride, whipping Travis Friend to the midwicket and mid-on boundaries and smashing Price through mid-off, when he misjudged one that turned sharply and was caught at slip by Alistair Campbell for 27 - off only 50 balls. Klusener had been threatening to achieve a scoring rate unrivalled in the game so far. Whether Shaun Pollock can now urge Kallis to switch on the electricity is doubtful. Kallis is on the brink of 150 and our Jacques isn't one to let entertainment get in the way of landmarks.

Lunch - South Africa 390 for 4 (Kallis 136*, Klusener 10*) trail Zimbabwe (419 for 9 dec) by 29 runs
As mass narcolepsy struck at Bulawayo, one man was wide awake at lunchtime - Ray Price. He grabbed his third wicket of the game when Boeta Dippenaar misjudged and struck him high to point where he was gathered by Grant Flower for 11 (368 for 4). It ended a scintillating patnership of 25 in 79 balls with Jacques Kallis, who has now officially cemented himself to the crease.

He has been in the middle for over seven hours and knocked up over 300 runs in the series, yet still he grinds painstakingly onward. Defensive shot, ungainly prod, robotic steer. Where is Kallis the blaster?

Enter Klusener, but it seemed that even his broad bat was a twig today - though he did whallop one loose delivery from Price through the covers with a typically brutal flourish.

10.45am - South Africa 362 for 3 (Kallis 118*, Dippenaar 11*)
Jacques Kallis moved to his ninth Test century on the final morning of the second Test, as South Africa finally took the attack to the bowlers, albeit briefly.

Kallis showed his aggressive intentions from the off, cracking three boundaries from a Heath Streak over, and he continued in the same vein until he reached three figures. The first nine overs of the day produced 43 runs; nothing extraordinary by normal standards, positively reckless compared with what the first four days of this match had offered.

There was even a wicket to thrill the sparse crowd. Neil MacKenzie, who had also taken a liking to Streak, milking nine of one of his overs, was deceived by a slow yorker from Travis Friend's first ball of the day, trapped lbw for 88.

The arrival of Boeta Dippenaar saw the scoring rate return to what seems to pass as normal in these parts. The wicket appeared to remind Kallis that there was a big not out waiting to boost his precious career average, and he retreated back into his shell.

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