Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson fell nine runs short of becoming the youngest to score a Test century against every nation as NZ took a 151-run lead against Zimbabwe.
Affies old boy and former Northerns player Neil Wagner tore through the Zimbabwean batting lineup in Bulawayo on day one of the first Test, picking up figures of 6-41 as the hosts were bowled out for 164.
The Kiwis continued their dominance on day two with the bat, as Martin Guptill and Tom Latham built on their overnight 32-0. Chamu Chibhabha, making his Test debut, found the breakthrough on 79, seeing off Guptill for 40.
Latham and Williamson then put on a further 156, with Latham raising his bat for a fourth Test ton. Latham departed soon after, but Williamson carried on with a century in sight. The 25-year-old was aiming to become the 13th, and comfortably the youngest, to score a Test century against all nine nations. He would have been the only player under 30 to have done it, but he will in all likelihood have to wait until the second Test, as captain Graeme Cremer, who toiled away valiantly all day, sent him back for 91.
Ross Taylor (38) and Ish Sodhi (5) took the side to 315-4 at the close of play.
Photo: Jekesai Njikizana/AFP/Getty Images
