New Zealand took three quick wickets to put Zimbabwe on the back foot
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
It was another productive day for New Zealand as they are just seven wickets away from completing a 2-0 series whitewash against Zimbabwe.
After doing an excellent job to bowl Zimbabwe out fairly quickly, Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson and batsman Ross Taylor stole the spotlight as they both made half-centuries.
Starting off the day on 305/6, Zimbabwe were dealt an early blow as captain Graeme Cremer was given out lbw off the bowling of Trent Boult for eight runs.
Donald Tiripano and John Nyumbu followed shortly after, while Craig Ervine, who scored his maiden Test century on day three, managed to make a career-best 146, which came off 272 balls and included 18 boundaries and a six, before he was dismissed by Ish Sodhi.
Sodhi was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Neil Wagner and Mitchell Santner snapped up two wickets apiece. Boult and Tim Southee, meanwhile, claimed one wicket each as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 362, which gave New Zealand a 220-run lead.
With a large lead in hand, New Zealand opted to bat again, but did not get off to the best of starts as openers Tom Latham and Martin Guptill fell in quick succession.
Despite this, Williamson and Taylor stabilised New Zealand’s innings by amassing an unbeaten 140-run partnership, during which both batsmen surpassed their half-century, before Williamson decided to declare with his side on 166/2, which left Zimbabwe needing 387 to win.
Williamson’s superb form with the bat continued
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Williamson finished on 68 off 103 balls, which included six boundaries, while Taylor remained undefeated on 67 off 78 deliveries, which included four boundaries and three sixes.
Taylor continued to rack up the runs against Zimbabwe
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Tiripano and Michael Chinouya took one wicket apiece.
Chasing 387 to win, Zimbabwe got off to a solid start before opener Chamu Chibhabha was caught by Guptill off the bowling of Wagner for 21.
Chibhabha’s opening partner Tino Mawoyo managed to make 35 before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Boult.
Things went from bad to worse for Zimbabwe in the very next over as Sikandar Raza was given out lbw off the bowling of Southee for a duck.
Following Raza’s dismissal, stumps was called, which left Tiripano, who was sent in as the nightwatchman, unbeaten on zero.
Southee, Boult and Wagner claimed one wicket each.
Zimbabwe ended day four on 58/3 and will continue batting on Wednesday at 10:00 local time or 08:00 GMT.