Daniel Vettori took 5-70 to help the Black Caps establish a healthy first-innings lead on day three of the one-off Test with Zimbabwe.
But Zimbabwe fight back with two late wickets on day three
Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori took 5-70 to help the Black Caps establish a healthy first-innings lead on day three of the one-off Test with Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
Vettori's 20th Test five-for not only saw him move to 350 wickets in the longest format, it also restricted Zimbabwe to 313 all out in their first-innings - 113 runs behind New Zealand's first-innings 426.
And the tourists extended their lead to 141 by stumps, however in doing so they lost openers Martin Guptill (0) and Brendan McCullum (11) as Zimbabwe fought back.
The day started badly for the home side, Hamilton Masakadza falling early without adding to his overnight 22 but Vusi Sibanda moved serenely onto 93, adding 76 in partnership with Brendan Taylor (50).
But, with a maiden Test century in sight, Sibanda threw his wicket away, steering a wide ball from specialist batsman Dean Brownlie to gully to hand the debutant his first wicket in any form of cricket.
Taylor's aggressive 50 was then ended when Vettori pinned him in front and when Tatenda Taibu fell 13 deliveries later, Zim found themselves in major trouble on 198-5.
Malcolm Waller (72no) and debutant keeper Regis Chakabva (37) launched a spirited fightback, though, adding 86 for the sixth wicket before the hosts collapsed horribly from 284-5 to 313 all out, Vettori and Chris Martin (2-74) polishing off the tail.
Zimbabwe ended the day on a high though, Kyle Jarvis (1-14) removing Guptill's middle stump with the fifth ball of the Kiwis' second innings, and just before stumps Ray Price's first ball trapped McCullum in front.
