Zimbabwe on brink of defeat

Gough unsuccessfully appeals for an lbw decision

Zimbabwe latest: 92-9

Zimbabwe were heading for an embarrassing innings defeat after losing four wickets for just 53 runs on Sunday.

They were reduced to 92-9 - still needing more than 200 runs to force England to bat again.

It took England just 10 minutes to claim their first fourth day victim in the first Test at Lord's.

The morning session was washed out but when the match resumed at 1410 BST, Andy Caddick soon got his second wicket of the innings, when Neil Johnson edged a shot for an easy catch at second slip for Graeme Hick.

Hick's safe pair of hands caught Guy Whittall on 23 for Caddick's third wicket.

Hussain and Zimbabwe's Johnson frolic in the rain

In between Ed Giddins had claimed two wickets as he got Brian Murphy plumb lbw on 14 runs and Heath Streak was out for a duck, after a superb catch by Nick Knight.

Zimbabwe had in effect lost the first Test by the end of Saturday's play when they were reduced to 39-5.

They were replying to England's first innings total of 415.

But they got off to a disastrous start when Grant Flower was judged lbw to Darren Gough with just two runs on the board.

Television replay

Trevor Gripper was next to go - albeit controversially.

He was given out by a television replay, a catch by Nick Knight at slip.

There were many who believed the ball had bounced first but Knight got the benefit of the doubt.

Then Alistair Campbell was out lbw for four as Gough took four early wickets.

Andy Caddick got his first wicket of the second innings when he trapped Murray Goodwin lbw for 11.

Captain Andy Flower was next to go - lbw for two runs off Gough's impressive bowling.

He finished the day with four wickets for 22 runs, off seven overs.

Alec salutes the crowd after his ton

England were given an extra half-hour to try and polish Zimbabwe off but bad light stopped play in an amazing third day.

England had earlier piled on the runs in reply to Zimbabwe's poor first innings total of 83 all out with impressive centuries from Graeme Hick and Alec Stewart.

It was Hick's first ton at Lord's but he had no time to celebrate as he was out the very next ball, caught lbw from some superb bowling from Heath Streak.

Streak's outstanding figures of six for 87 reflected a tremendous job for his country.

Stewart reached his ton not long after lunch and ended the innings 124 not out.

However a familiar England story was also unfolding.

Without Hick and Stewart, England would have struggled with the bat.

The last five wickets were lost for just 39 runs as England tried to get quick runs.

Zimbabwe Second Innings Close
G W Flower lbw b Gough 2
T R Gripper c Knight b Gough 5
M W Goodwin lbw b Caddick 11
A D R Campbell lbw b Gough 4
B A Murphy not out 11
A Flower lbw b Gough 2
N C Johnson not out 1
Extras lb1 nb2 3
Total 5 wkts (13.4 overs) 39

England's first innings

M A Atherton lbw b Streak 55
M R Ramprakash lbw b Streak 15
N Hussain c Murphy b Streak 10
G A Hick lbw b Streak 101
A J Stewart not out 124
N V Knight c Johnson b Whittall 44
A Flintoff c Streak b Whittall 1
C P Schofield c Johnson b Whittall 0
A R Caddick c A Flower b Streak 13
D Gough c Campbell b Murphy 5
E S H Giddins c Strang b Streak 7
Extras b5 lb29 w1 nb5 40

Total (135.5 overs) 415