Tue, 01 Nov 2011-Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, New Zealand Tour of Zimbabwe 2011-12, Only Test - Bulletin

New Zealand win thriller despite Taylor ton

It was a last day full of drama at Bulawayo with both teams within striking distance of clinching the one-off Test; in the end New Zealand held their nerve to stop Zimbabwe 34 runs from the target with a splendid bowling display in the last session. At Tea, chasing 366 the hosts were well placed at 265 for 3 with centurion Brendon Taylor still at the crease but a collapse saw them lose 7 for 66 to be all-out for 331.

The excitement after Tea could have bettered any T20 game with the game swinging like a pendulum, few runs for the hosts meant that the game had titled in their favour and each wicket got New Zealand closer to victory. Eventually, the visitors prevailed owing to the relentless pursuit of wickets.

With 101 needed in about 29 overs, Zimbabwe were definitely the favorites going into last two hours of play but lost Taylor in the first over after Tea, caught by BJ Watling at deep cover for 117. It was almost a repeat of a similar shot before the break when third umpire had concluded that Watling did not take a clean catch at an identical fielding position. Soon after, Daniel Vettori’s tactic of bowling into the rough outside leg stump produced a wicket as Tatenda Taibu’s attempted sweep lobbed to Guptill at midwicket for 63.

Notwithstanding the two blows, Malcolm Waller kept the chase going with some enterprising shots and took Zimbabwe past 300. But, calamity struck once again as Chakabva was smartly pouched by Reece Young behind the stumps. While runs continued to flow from Waller’s blade, wickets tumbled at the other end. Njabulo Ncube hit a six before Bracewell cleaned him up with a full delivery to earn a five-for on debut. Ray Price too didn’t last long and by the time Waller was trapped in front by Vettori for 29, the chase was as good as over. The same bowler proved too good for last man Mpofu as New Zealand emerged victorious in the see-saw battle. However, the frenetic events of evening were preceded by a solid batting display from Zimbabwe.

Having lost two wickets yesterday evening, a Zimbabwean win was nearly out of question but skipper Taylor played aggressively to catch New Zealand bowlers off-guard.After coming in to bat at number four, Taylor started off quietly, scoring 8 off 21 deliveries before switching gears without any warning. Chris martin was clattered for two boundaries and a six in one over as the flood gates were opened. Taylor was at his bludgeoning smashing three more sixes off Jeetan Patel who struggled to keep the runs down.

Taylor got to his fifty at nearly run-a-ball to put the big chase on track. All the while, he was going great guns, Tino Mawoyo help up the other end by playing second fiddle to his captain. He too got to his half century as the brisk third wicket partnership was starting to hurt New Zealand’s cause. With nothing happening from his regular bowlers, Ross Taylor threw the ball to part-timer Martin Guptill and the break through did come rather fortuitously. A turning off-break gently disturbed Mawoyo’s stumps after hitting his thigh pad to end his 52 run knock.

This prompted Taylor to slow down a bit and he along with Tatenda Taibu took Zimbabwe into Lunch at 169 for 3 after which the big hitting show of morning was replaced by little subdued but solid batting display in the afternoon session. After the fall of Mawoyo’s wicket, the Zimbabwean innings slowed down considerably as new man in Tatenda Taibu struggled to get going straightaway. He had crawled to seven off 65 deliveries before the wicket keeping batsman got his act together. Chris Martin once again punished for some loose stuff as Taibu unleashed back to back boundaries to help Zimbabwe cross 200. Soon he had enough confidence to dismiss Guptill over the straight boundary.

Meanwhile, Taylor was quiet as compared to the early blitzkrieg. Realizing that his presence in the middle would keep Zimbabwe alive, he cut down on the high-risk strokes while targeting anything off line forcefully. However, there were one or two alarming moments including the one that that took him to three figures. Thus, Taylor became only the second Zimbabwean to score a fourth innings century. He warmed up for the second new ball with fourth maximum off Jeetan Patel. At Tea, Taylor and Co looked set for a victory lap but that was not to be.

Since Zimbabwe controlled pace for most of the day, this defeat would have definitely broken their heart.

Day 4: Bulletin on next page