Mpumelelo 'Pommie' Mbangwa sent Zimbabwe's confidence soaring sky high at Headingley yesterday by turning in the best bowling performance by a touring side against Yorkshire for 65 years.

The 23-year-old paceman destroyed Yorkshire's batting in two lethal spells which left him with figures of six for 12 off 15 overs when he was rested for a second time.

It was the best effort since South Africa's Xenphon Balaskas captured eight for 99 at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, in 1935.

Mbangwa's first spell, in which he took two for four in five overs, occurred in dreary morning weather before bad light and rain drove the players off until late in the afternoon, causing 51 of the day's ration of overs to be lost.

But the sun was shining brightly when he came back for another burst and he responded by grabbing four for eight off ten overs. When he took his sweater, Mbangwa's overall figures were the best by any Zimbabwe bowler overseas.

Mbangwa struck a double blow in his opening over from the Kirkstall Lane end as Yorkshire began their reply to Zimbabwe's first innings score of 235. His first ball found the leading edge of David Byas' bat and flew to Guy Whittall at mid-off and he then moved one away from Richard Harden who nicked a catch to 17-year-old wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu.

Vic Craven and Matthew Wood rallied Yorkshire either side of the long stoppage until Mbangwa was brought back at 50 for two and he dismissed Craven lbw second ball with a full toss.

Mluleki Nkala chipped in by having top-scorer Wood caught at second slip for 32 before Mbangwa went on the rampage again with three wickets in three overs, Gary Fellows and James Middlebrook both falling lbw and debutant Michael Lumb being caught behind off a fine glance.

As soon as he started to tire, Mbangwa was wisely taken off with the Yorkshire innings in tatters on 84 for seven.

Yorkshire's other debutant, wicketkeeper Simon Guy, batted with some style, however, and his unbeaten 24 had moved the score on to 119 at the close when the deficit on the first innings stood at 116.

Yorkshire v Zimbabwe at Headingley

Yorkshire won the toss

Zimbabwe - First innings: 235 (G J Whit-tall 89, J D Middlebrook 4-89).

Yorkshire (First innings)

D Byas c Whittall b Mbangwa 1

V J Craven lbw b Mbangwa 21

R J Harden c Taibu b Mbangwa 0

M J Wood c Carlisle b Nkala 32

G M Fellows lbw b Mbangwa 14

M J Lumb c Taibu b Mbangwa 2

G M Hamilton c Carlisle b Strang 12

J D Middlebrook lbw B Mbangwa 0

S M Guy not out 24

P M Hutchinson c Goodwin b Whittall 0

M J Hoggard not out 1

Extras 12

Total 9 wkts, 53 overs 119

Fall: 1-3, 2-3, 3-50, 4-72, 5-79, 6-80, 7-84, 8-97, 9-117.

Bowling: Srang 19-6-57-21, Mbangwa 15-8-12-6, Brent 6-1-14-0, G W Flower 2-1-2-0, Nkala 8-3-25-1, Whittall 3-3-0-1.