Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NEW ZEALAND dominated the first day of the first Test match against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club yesterday, immediately putting the hosts on the back foot and denting the Chevrons’ quest to end their poor run in this format of the game.
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first, but their batting line-up struggled against the Blackcaps’ seam attack.
After the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first, skipper Craig Ervine said he wants his team to get runs on the board and then get his spinners in the game later on.
Yet the Chevrons had no answers for the Blackcaps’ seam attack, putting in a dismal show.
They were bowled out for a paltry 149 runs although Ervine, Tafadzwa Tsiga and Nick Welch offered some resistance.
Overall, it was a day that belonged to New Zealand as their openers Devon Conway and Will Young saw out the remaining overs of the day having bundled out Zimbabwe shortly after Tea.
The tourists ended Day One on 92/0 after 26 overs, trailing by 57 runs.
Zimbabwe lost their first wicket with the last ball of the third over when Brian Bennett was caught at third slip for six runs off 11 deliveries.
The wicket brought Welch into the middle, joining the returning Ben Curran.
Curran was the next to fall in the seventh over, also caught at third slip for 13 runs off 20 balls.
Both the wickets of Zimbabwe’s openers were taken by Matt Henry.
In the 12th over, Sean Williams chopped on a Nathan Smith delivery on two runs from 13 balls, leaving the Chevrons in trouble on 31/3 inside the first hour of play.
There was then a 36 run fourth wicket partnership between Ervine and Welch before the latter was caught for 27 runs off 68 deliveries at the stroke of lunch.
Zimbabwe went into the lunch break on 67/4 and quickly lost yet another wicket three deliveries into the start of the second session.
Sikandar Raza was caught behind for two runs off three deliveries.
He was Henry’s fourth victim.
There was a 54-run sixth wicket partnership between Ervine and Tsiga, a resistance which brought some parity to Zimbabwe’s innings.
Ervine was trapped in front for a gutsy 39 runs off 116 deliveries by Smith, leaving the Chevrons on 123/6 in 50.1 overs.
Tsiga would fall two overs later for a courageous 30 runs off 78 deliveries, also trapped in front by Smith.
At that stage, Zimbabwe were on 136/7 after 52.5 overs.
The Chevrons could only add 13 runs for the loss of the remaining three wickets.
Newman Nyamhuri was caught for nine runs at slips with Henry completing his fifth Test five.
Vincent Masekesa was run out for seven runs off 22 balls while Blessing Muzarabani was caught for a single run after facing eight balls.
Henry finished with figures of 6/39 in 15.3 overs while Smith took 3/20 in 14 overs.
They are the only Blackcaps bowlers who were among the wickets on the first day.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers were made to toil by Conway and Young.
Conway ended the day on 51 runs off 87 deliveries, his 12th Test half century. He scored eight boundaries. Young finished on 41 runs from 69 deliveries, with four boundaries.
Muzarabani bowled eight overs with three maidens while conceding 25 runs with Chivanga bowling three overs and going for 23 runs. Nyamhuri bowled six overs for 18 runs with two maidens.
Zimbabwe used two spinners towards the end of the day’s play. Sikandar Raza bowled five overs for 13 runs while Williams bowled two overs for 11 runs.
Masekesa bowled a single over, conceding just two runs.
One over was lost yesterday.
Play resumes at 10am today for Day Two.
