New Zealand In Charge at Napier

Ross Taylor made 111x

Zimbabwe won the toss and bowled in their one off Test at Napier in New Zealand. The reasons for such a decision lie only with themselves, as the pitch looked good for batting and the match would never be controlled bating last.

The quality of the wicket was proven all day, as New Zealand batted as they pleased against an attack that was  largely toothless. Kane Williamson and Dean Brownlie were like the only kids in the candy store who couldn't take any candy because they thought the lids might stop them only to watch others throw unscrewed the lids off and gorge. Brendan McCullum and Martin Guptil found the Zimbabwe bowlers easier that Australia's Pattinson and co and 134 for the first wicket and set the tone for the day. McCullum hit 8 fours and 2 sixes and yet, it was an unusually restrained innings.

Ross Taylor played the innings of the day. He was particularly vicious on anything short outside off stump, his first nine boundaries coming from cuts shorts off the faster bowlers. He took 17 from one over from leg spinner Graeme Cremer, including two huge blasts over the mid wicket fence. He was well supported, adding 64 with McCullum, 82 with Dan Vettori (batting at six now) and 53 unbeaten with BJ Watling.

Tatenda Taibu was clean and efficient behind the stumps, taking two catches and being lightning quick to stump Vettori when he dragged his back foot after being fooled by a wrong-un from Cremer. Hamilton Masakadza was the pick of the bowlers, although Kyle Jarvis bowled with a lot of heart and had Brownlie dropped by Brendan Taylor at second slip a few balls after removing McCallum.

As always with minnows, its not talent they lack, its consistency.