Kiwis Take Twenty In A Day

Bradley-John Watling made 102x

As far as punishing defeats go, this was as big a snub of a minnow as has been delivered in Test Cricket. It is in fact New Zealand's biggest Test victory and only seven other victories in the 2033 Tests played have been  larger.

Resuming after almost a day lost to rain, New Zealand lost only two wickets in adding 103 of 18 overs and then declared after keeper BJ Watling raised his maiden Test hundred. With nearly 500 on the board and plenty of time left, it was all a matter of how well Zimbabwe would resist against the Kiwi attack of four seamers and Dan Vettori.

At the end of the first fifteen overs when lunch was taken, Zimbabwe were 5-20 and any questions about how long were being measured in hours, not days. The first innings ended four balls after drinks in the middle session, with Malcolm Waller's 23 being the only set of double figures. The wickets were shared about the Kiws: if you got a bowl, you got a wicket, although why all five bowlers were used only stand in skipper Brendon McCullum could answer. The weather was cool and dry and a gentle breeze came across the ground. Einstein wasn't required to decide whether the follow on should be enforced against a batting line up that was compelled to play outside the off stump giving Dean Brownlie four catches at third slip.

By tea, Zimbabwe were 3-12 on the second time around. Chris Martin had all three in five overs.

After the break, Martin was removed from the attack after two overs, the second of which cost 9. McCullum, fearing a rear guard action ran for the cover of other bowlers apparently, despite Doug Bracewell taking two wickets at the other end with the first over after tea: Zimbabwe's best batsman Tatenda Taibu and the first innings top scorer, Waller. Bracewell got Mutizwa edging faintly to Watling a few overs later and at 6-37, it was a matter of whether of not Zimbabwe could better their paltry first innings total.

To the great credit of Regis Chakabva and Graeme Cremer they fought for their wickets with a 63 run 7th wicket partnership that got the total to three figures. Chakabva played nicely off his legs and took toll of some over pitched deliveries on his pads. Through this period, a dropped catch by Brownlie and some odd captaincy by McCullum aided their cause. McCullum seemed unable to decide how he should go about removing the rest of Zimbabweans and dithered with his bowling selections. Vettori was given a ten over spell which was accurate but completely non-threatening on a day when the conditions and wicket suited seamers. One of the issues with NZ cricket is the amount of credence Vittori has without reason. He is a useful left arm orthodox who has hardly ever spun an opposition out although, one ball actually spun. I have watched the former NZ captain many time live and on television and its the first time I've seen that happen. Kane Williamson and Martin Guptil were both given a turn and even though Williamson broke the partnership with a "hit me into the pavilion" full toss which Cremer miss hit only as far as Bracewell at mid on, there was no need for part timers to be bowling. A four pronged pace attack was more than enough for the job.

MOTM: Martin 2-5 & 6-26

Chris Martin, the senior man in this attack, was left in various outfield positions whilst Zimbabwe battled on and every man and their dog rolled their arm over. When he was finally bought back to bowl in an extended last half hour, he finished it in 9 deliveries, including Chakabva who cut hard at a short ball and was unlucky not to clear third slip where Brownlie held a spectacular catch high into the air above himslef. Martin finished a twelfth batsman for a hatrick and with 8-31 for the match and took the man of the match award. It was a worthy choice, although Ross Taylor probably had better claims.

Troubling times ahead when South Africa arrive on Kiwi shores if McCullum is still tossing the coin.