New Zealand dominated on a flat track as they took control of the only Test against Zimbabwe on Tuesday. A century from Martin Guptill and an unbeaten 76 from Ross Taylor saw them reach 275 for three at the close, reports ESPNstar.
Opener Guptill went for 109 late in the day and Zimbabwe might have made it a double breakthrough as an edge from BJ Watling was somehow allowed to fall harmlessly between Regis Chakabva and Ray Price in the slips in the penultimate over.
But such drama was uncharacteristic of a day where the tourists had it virtually all their own way on a batting friendly surface.
There was an element of good fortune for Zimbabwe in all three wickets that fell.
Brendon McCullum will have been kicking himself for a rash shot early on, while a bizarre run-out accounted for Kane Williamson one run shy of his half-century.
There may have been an element of fatigue in the departure of Guptill, who should have done better with a delivery from Hamilton Masakadza that sat up nicely, only for him to hit it straight to Tatenda Taibu at midwicket.
The tourists were hit with an injury to Jesse Ryder in the build-up to the match and, having won the toss and chosen to bat, got off to a cautious start as Kyle Jarvis delivered a maiden over.
But New Zealand soon loosened up, and Guptill hit three fours in the space of four Jarvis deliveries in the fifth over to speed things up.
They had moved the score on to 40 when Jarvis made the breakthrough as McCullum played on, sending a bottom edge back on to his stumps to go for 14.
Guptill was unabashed by his fellow opener's departure, though, and hit one towering six before offering a rare chance to Zimbabwe in the penultimate over before lunch.
He hit a delivery from Price low and hard back towards the bowler, who got his hands up but could not hang on.
Williamson had reached the interval on 37, but added only 12 more before gifting his wicket to the hosts.
He came out of his crease to defend a delivery from Price, prodding the ball back, but quick thinking from the bowler saw him snatch the ball and throw at the stumps before the slow-reacting Williamson could make his ground.
But such a strange dismissal was hardly a sign of things to come for Zimbabwe.
There were a couple of hopeful lbw appeals by Njabulo Ncube, while Guptill offered one difficult chance to Price in the field when he misjudged a Masakadza delivery, but overall New Zealand looked to be in complete control as they reached tea on 179 for two.
New Zealand looked a little more sloppy in the final session, missing with their shots.
But Guptill still looked in fine nick and moved on to 99 with a towering six off Price before passing three figures moments later with another boundary.
He had just struck his 11th four off Masakadza went he was caught to bring Watling to the crease.
He sent the first ball he faced for four but had a nervous moments in the penultimate over, fortunate that the ball crossed the ropes when it should have been caught.
Watling made it through to the finish on 16.
Source: bdnews24.com
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