Zim staring at innings defeat
Zimbabwe 164 all out 77.5 overs (Tiripano 49*, Masvaure 42, Wagner 6/41, Southee 2/28) and 121-5 21 overs (Ervine 49, Raza 37, Boult 3/33) New Zealand 576/6 declared 166.5 overs (Taylor 173*, Watling 107, Latham 105, Williamson 91, Masakadza 1/25) Zimbabwe trail by 291 runs with five second innings wickets remaining.
AN unbeaten hundred by former Kiwis captain Ross Taylor and a century by Bradley-John Watling coupled with a brilliant bowling display by pace bowler Trent Boult put New Zealand on track to beat Zimbabwe by an innings on the third day of the first cricket Test at Queens Sports Club yesterday.
Taylor, in to bat at number four finished with unbeaten on 173 from 299 balls, in 367 minutes spent at the crease during which he put away 19 fours, combined with Watling who made 107 in 245 minutes in the middle where he faced up to 209 deliveries, 12 of those gone for fours for a 253 run partnership for the sixth wicket as New Zealand, who bowled Zimbabwe for 164 in their first innings posted 576 for six declared in 166.5 overs, a lead of 412. A tremendous bowling spell by left arm pace bowler Boult left Zimbabwe in tatters, on 121 for five 21 overs, thanks to an unbeaten 49 runs from Craig Ervine. This means that the home team still requires a further 291 runs for New Zealand to come out to bat in the second innings.
New Zealand had entered the third day on 315 for four, Taylor and night watchman Inderbir Sodhi the two batsmen at the crease. Michael Chinouya struck in the second over of the day, Sodhi getting an edge to be taken by wicketkeeper Brian Chari for 11 runs for the bowler to pick up his first wicket in Test cricket.
Taylor reached his 25th Test 50 with a single through the off side from Prince Masvaure’s bowling, the half ton coming off 108 deliveries and was made up of seven fours.
Zimbabwe did not find any further breakthroughs as the New Zealand lead kept increasing. Wicketkeeper Bradley-John Watling reached his 12 Test half century with a boundary off the bowling of Sikandar Raza. By the time of the lunch break New Zealand were on 423 for five in 131 overs, Taylor on 87 while his batting partner Watling had 50.
Taylor reached his 14th Test century off 191 balls with 11 of those deliveries put away for fours. His 150 came off 276 balls and contained 17 boundaries. At tea time, New Zealand had moved to 543 runs for the loss of five wickets in 162 overs, Taylor on 156 with Watling on 95, the tourists 379 ahead.
After 239 minutes at the crease during which he faced up to 169 deliveries, 11 gone for fours, Watling raised his bat for his sixth Test century, the second against Zimbabwe as the New Zealand lead inched closer to 400.
Watling was the sixth New Zealand batsman to fall, removed by Sikandar Raza, taken in the deep by substitute fielder Taurai Muzarabani and the Kiwis decided they had enough of batting and declared their innings.
Needing 412 runs to make New Zealand bat again, Zimbabwe made a horrible start in their second innings, Masakadza gone for four with the fourth ball to Tim Southee, taken at first slip by Taylor.
Chari made five prior to being bowled by Trent Boult in the second over, Zimbabwe in all sorts of trouble at 12 runs for two. Chamunorwa Chibhabha became Boult’s second victim, snared at first slip by Taylor. Boult was not done, trapping Prince Masvaure leg before wicket for a first ball duck to put himself in line for a hat trick. Raza put away Boult’s hat trick delivery that he despatched for four.
Raza made a rapid 37 from 29 deliveries which included eight fours but played one short too many which led to his demise, out to Neil Wagner, presenting wicketkeeper Tom Latham with an easy catch. That brought an end to Raza’s 69 run stand for the fifth wicket with Craig Ervine.
Left hander Ervine stood firm for Zimbabwe and is one run short of his half century with skipper Graeme Cremer for company at the crease.
Boult ended the day with three wickets for 33 runs in five overs while Southee and Wagner took one wicket apiece.
Senior player Masakadza felt that they have recovered to some extent and hopes that Ervine can stay in the middle for longer and help them reduce the deficit.
“We have recovered to some extent, Craig is playing well out there so hopefully he can bat a little longer and get us deeper into the innings,’’ said Masakadza.
The match heads into its fourth day this morning with all indicating to a New Zealand win by an innings unless if the remaining Zimbabwean batsmen can put up a better display. Sean Williams and Regis Chakabva who did not field during New Zealand’s first innings due to illness are expected to play for Zimbabwe today.