Flowers bloom again for hosts

BULAWAYO, Oct 1: A third wicket partnership of 77 between the Flower brothers sowed the seeds for a Zimbabwe total of 233 for eight in the first of three One-Day Internationals against New Zealand today.

Opener Grant Flower top-scored with 66 while his elder brother Andy made 35 as they revived their side after left-arm seamer Shayne O’Connor had sent back Gavin Rennie and Alistair Campbell in his first four overs.

The pair took the total from 24 for two to 101 before Andy Flower chopped Gavin Larsen on to his stumps.

Grant Flower, who scored two centuries, 83 and 49 in the drawn two match Test series between the sides, hit his 12th One-Day International half century, persishing when he top-edged a sweep at Daniel Vettori to short fine leg.yyyyy