Zimbabwe, who went down to an innings and 92-run thrashing against England inside three days at the first Test at Lord's last week, once again did not help their cause with some lax fielding and poor bowling.

At Lord's, centurion Mark Butcher was put down before he made 40 while, on Friday, it was Robin Weston's turn to benefit. He eventually made 129 but only after seeing Stuart Carlisle at point floor a routine catch off paceman Mluleki Nkala when he had made 19.

And some wayward bowling allowed Ireland's Ed Joyce (80) and England one-day reject Owais Shah (68) to cash in.

Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak resting from this match along with fellow quick bowlers Andy Blignaut and Douglas Hondo warned his team in the aftermath of their Lord's defeat that they needed to tighten up in the field if they were not to suffer similar embarrassment in the second and final Test which starts at Durham's Riverside Ground on Thursday.

Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh reinforced the message once more on Friday: "It was a tough day in the field. We tended to bowl too short and too wide," Marsh said.

"On a wicket like that you need to keep a tight line," former Australia opening batsman Marsh added.