cricket

Stephen Fleming became New Zealand's most successful captain as his team cruised to an eight-wicket triumph over Zimbabwe in the second Test in Harare.

The win, achieved despite an undefeated 188 by Zimbabwe's Guy Whittall, took Fleming past Geoff Howarth's mark with 12 victories in 29 attempts.

Fleming was also able to celebrate a 2-0 series triumph following the seven-wicket success in Bulawayo earlier in the tour.

Mathew Sinclair (35 not out) and man-of-the-match Chris Cairns (19 not out) saw New Zealand past the target of 72 with ease.

Zimbabwe had resumed their follow-on on at 228 for five, needing 299 to make New Zealand bat again. They were dismissed three balls after tea for 370 after Whittall and Heath Streak (54) added 151 for the sixth wicket.

Whittall resisted for 472 minutes and faced 419 balls. He hit 27 fours and two sixes and took his test century tally to three.

Whittall and Streak nursed Zimbabwe through the morning session with lunch taken on 285 for five. They had nudged the match in the direction of a draw when Streak was trapped in front by seamer Cairns.

New Zealand then removed Mluleki Nkala (0), Paul Strang (8), and Henry Olonga (0) in the space of six overs to regain command.

Cairns bowled Strang, while pace bowler Shayne O'Connor had Nkala and Olonga leg before.

Whittall and last-man Mpumelelo Mbangwa were parted three balls into the final session when a mix-up saw both batsmen at one end and Mbangwa was run out by Dion Nash for five.

O'Connor had the best return of four for 73.

Fleming said: ''We had to work hard during the three days that we spent in the field, and it was very tough at times while the partnership between Heath Streak and Guy Whittall was on the go.

''When Chris Cairns and Shayne O'Connor took the new ball, that was our last chance.

''We created some pressure, that's what playing Test cricket is all about. We look to play aggressively, and when you do you create chances and luck.''

The first of three one-day internationals start in Harare on Wednesday.

n Bangladesh captain Naimur Rahman said that his team would adopt ''a postive approach'' when they play England in their opening match of the ICC Knock-out Trophy tournament early next month.

The 14-man Bangladeshi squad left yesterday for the limited-overs competition which will start in Nairobi on October 3. The squad is:

Javed Omer Belim, Ehsanul Hoque, Habibul Bashar, Akram Khan, Aminul Islam, Al-Shariar, Naimur Rahman (captain), Khaled Masud, Enamul Hoque, Hasibul Hasan, Monjurul Islam, Mohammed Rafique, Mushfiqur Rahman, Bikash Ranjan Das.

n BRIAN Lara, the former West Indies captain, has quit as captain of Trinidad and Tobago ahead of next month's Red Stripe limited overs series.

Lara, first choice of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) since 1994, asked not to be considered for the post but he will continue to play for the side under the next captain.

Lara resigned as West Indies captain in February after his side lost both Tests and all five one-dayers in New Zealand.

n South Africa A struck first blood on Saturday with a win over West Indies A in the teams' one-day match at Sabina Park, the first of three one-day matches.

The South Africans scored 186 for seven wickets in 41 overs, the reduced target after rain stopped play for 90 minutes. The West Indies were dismissed for 103 in just 31.2 overs.