Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"You should never cut a spinner they say. It wasn't a great ball by any stretch of the imagination but the skipper has brought himself on and he's done the trick."

Image source, AFP

This is a job for an experienced head. So who are UAE going to call? Their 43-year-old skipper Mohammad Tauqir of course. And the spinner provides a magic touch, making the breakthrough the UAE badly needed - grabbing the scalp of danger man Sikander Raza.

Off spinner Nasir Aziz takes the ball again as he tries to, er, spin Zimbabwe's top order into a frenzy. But Raza plays it well, picking up five runs off two balls to keep the favourites ticking over nicely.

Garry MacDonald
Former Canterbury spinner and coach

"It's the sort of wicket where if you want to put the accelerator down you can, even the lower order can climb in and get runs as we've seen today."

Woah there Zimbabwe! UAE bowler Naveed, like a overzealous horseman, reins back the galloping batsmen with a tight maiden over.

Sikander Raza is feeling the groove now - maybe it is hearing the Outhere Brothers which have helped him. The Zimbabwe opener steps back to swat a four down cover point, before going maverick with a one-handed sweep that also finds the rope. That eases Raza and his more-reserved wingman Chakabva past the 50 partnership.

Garry MacDonald
Former Canterbury spinner and coach

"The UAE bowlers are just starting to take a bit of stick now."

Like all good partnerships, Naveed arrives in the nick of time to bail out his pal. Naveed keeps things tight with a few fuller deliveries...but wait! He goes short and the delivery met by a stunning pull from Sikander Raza, who thumps the ball for six.

And that is met by a burst of 90s hip-house legends Outhere Brothers from the PA system. Excellent.

Garry MacDonald
Former Canterbury spinner and coach

"The Zimbabwe boys out here are just starting to get really established, they took their time but they have got the pace of the wicket now and are starting to roll."

Image source, AFP

UAE's opening attack started brightly - but Javed has a shocker, conceding 15 runs in a nightmare over. He bowls wide, short or both as Raza fills his boots with three boundaries. Javed puffs out his cheeks, grabs his cap and retreats to the field for a hard think.

After watching opening partner Sikander Raza make the early moves, Regis Chakabva decides to come to the party. Chakabva leans away from a Naveed delivery to guide the ball past the second slip to the boundary.

Zimbabwe have not found their rhythm yet, and some hesitation as the openers make a quick dash for a single almost costs them. Raza is scrambling for his crease, but the throw from the UAE field is not accurate as the ball flashes past the stumps.

The grassy verges inside the Saxton Oval resemble a sandy beach in the Mediterranean. Families are picnicking, the kids tearing around as mum and dad enjoy a plastic cup full of ice cold booze.

Zimbabwe's opening pair begin patiently, adding another five runs on their early tally.

A huge appeal goes up after the first delivery of the fourth over - but the ball strikes the top of Sikander Raza's helmet, not his bat. That clunk seems to have woken up the Zimbabwe batsman, who thumps it high over backward point as the boundary is troubled for the first time. Zimbabwe crank up the speed, albeit still slowly, on the scoreboard.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"It's a very watchful start from Zimbabwe. If you're chasing anything above 230 you want wickets in hands and I think they've certainly talked about that."

Another good over from Mohammad Naveed, who thunders down the ball at a fair old pace. The UAE seamer is bowling an average speed of 137kph so far. Quick.

Amjad Javed was Mohammad Naveed's partner in crime with the bat as the tail wagged furiously in the UAE innings. Now the pair have joined forces again as they try to tag team the Zimbabwe top order into submission. So far so good - Javed is as economical as his mate with the ball.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"It was a very impressive innings from UAE, I thought they were starting to lose wickets at the wrong times but the two guys at the end got them up and it was an exceptional batting performance."

UAE quickie Mohammad Naveed, who did a decent job with the bat, is charged with opening with the ball. And Naveed is slapped on the back by his team-mates as Zimbabwe make a slow start in their chase of 286.

Still awake? Good. The Zimbabwe openers stroll out into the middle, followed by the UAE team. That means we're back under way in the picturesque surroundings of New Zealand town Nelson.