NOTTINGHAM.England. .June 5: Zimbabwe were 285 for four at the close of the fourth day ot the second and final Test against England, 89 behind their hosts' first Innings 374. reports AFP.

Zimbabwe sailed past the follow-on thanks mainly to a fine innings from 27-year-old Murray Goodwin. When bad light ended play for the day at 7pm local time (1800 GMT) Goodwin was 1 18 not out off 250 balls, having hit 20 fours — a record Test score by a Zimbab-nerships with both batsmen as they proved to an English crowd that they can play under pressure.

After his personal nightmare at Lord's, Flower at least had the satisfaction of making 42 from 1 13 balls before he was fourth out. playing on to Darren Gough In the first over with the second new ball.

Flower was doubly unlucky because a few balls later the umpires offered the light and play finished.

The England seamers generally failed to bowl a full enough length on a pitch that still had some pace in it if little lateral movement.

Meanwhile leg-spinner Chris Schofield struggled as well, bowling plenty'of fulltosses and long-hops, which were seized on by the ravenous Zimbabwe batsmen. His figures oi 18-2-73-0 told their own story.

Goodwin, a predominately backfoot player, who learned his cricket oh hard Australian pitches, was too often given the chance to play shots square of the wicket on both sides.

But it is one thing for the bowlers to be below their best; it is another for batsmen to take advantage and Goodwin, rightly pointed out afterwards that it was not as easy as it may have looked.

It was pleasing to get out there after the debacle at Lord's. But sometimes England bowled balls that were too"good for me. There was some variable bounce in the pitch so you had to concentrate.’1

After rain had washed out the morning session. Zimbabwe resumed on 51 for two with Goodwin 11 not out and Johnson nine not out. , &

The tourists still needad another 124 to avoid the foTlbw on and England must have fancied their chances.

But Andy Caddick for one did not appear happy with the footholds and was not as threatening as he had been previously.

The combination of the lefthanded Johnson and right-handed Goodwin forced the bowlers to alter their line constantly. especially as they ran briskly between the wickets.

When Ed Giddins dropped short Goodwin pulled him for four and Johnson was similarly aggresive clipping a Cad-dick full-toss off his legs lor a boundary. Goodwin’s fifty came oil 93 balls and Included six fours. Johnson slightly quicker to the landmark oft 92 balls and eight fours.

But Just when It seemed he and Goodwin would bat through the session the former Leicestershire player was out

Johnson, on 51. tried to cut a Darren Gough delivery that was too close to him. The ball flew off the outside edge and wicketkeeper Alec Stewart, leaping high to his left. took a fine two-handed catch

Still he had more than played his part in a stand of 129. a record for any Zimbabwe Test wicket against England, his side 162 for three, 13 runs short of safety.

But Goodwin, had the measure of the attack and showed he can play off the front-foot too straight-driving Caddick for four.

It was one of his rare false strokes, an edged two to third-man off Caddick that took Zimbabwe to the follow-on target of 175.

With the weather forecast still uncertain and a day left, a draw, which would leave England as one-nil series' winners, remains the likeliest result.

But Zimbabwe have al least won back their cricketing self-respect.