ZIM VS NZ, 2ND TEST – DAY 1
Henry and Foulkes shared nine between them © AFP
Matt Henry’s five-wicket haul and a composed four-for from debutant Zakary Foulkes set the tone for a dominant opening day for New Zealand in Bulawayo, as Zimbabwe were bundled out for just 125 in 48.5 overs before the visitors cruised to 174/1 by stumps.
Brendan Taylor, returning to Test cricket after over three years, was the only Zimbabwe batter to resist for long with a gritty 44 but his dismissal after lunch triggered a collapse that saw the hosts lose their last six wickets for just 42 runs.
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine won the toss and opted to bat first on a dry-looking surface but any hopes of a strong start were dashed as Henry struck early in his nine-over opening spell, removing Brian Bennett with a beautiful outswinger and then trapping Nick Welch lbw in the 15th over with a nip-backer. Foulkes picked up Sean Williams with a delivery that straightened off the seam and added the wicket of Ervine on the stroke of lunch to leave Zimbabwe in trouble at 67 for 4.
Taylor held one end for a while, mixing caution with the occasional drive but once he fell to Henry off a loose shot outside off, Zimbabwe’s lower order folded quickly. Foulkes struck twice in an over, first having Sikander Raza caught at leg gully and then trapping Trevor Gwandu in front with an in-ducker to reduce Zimbabwe to 83/7.
Henry, bowling a six-over spell this time, then knocked over Vincent Masekesa and Blessing Muzarabani with late outswingers to complete his five-wicket haul. Matthew Fischer picked his maiden wicket when Tanaka Chivanga holed out to mid-off, bringing an end to a 25-run partnership for the last wicket.
In reply, New Zealand’s openers Will Young and Devon Conway batted through the final session largely untroubled and brought up the team fifty in eight overs.
Young brought up his half-century off only 49 balls but was offered a reprieve next ball, when Raza dropped a tough chance off Tanaka Chivanga at mid-wicket.
Conway, the steadier of the two, brought up his half-century in 81 balls and rode his luck along the way, first when Ervine put down a low chance in the slip cordon on 42 and later when he survived a close LBW shout from Vincent Masekesa on 72.
The 162-run opening stand was broken by Gwandu late in the day when Young under-edged a pull shot on 74. With lights fading, Zimbabwe bowled spinners from both ends but failed to strike again as New Zealand finished the day firmly on top.
Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 125 (Taylor 44; Henry 5-40, Foulkes 4-38) trail NZ 174/1 (Young 74, Conway 79) by 49 runs
© Cricbuzz
