Cricket Scorecard

All in readiness for New Zealand's response with the bat to get underway. The two umpires and players have made their way out to the centre.

... DAY 1, THIRD SESSION ...

The Zimbabwean pacers will need to take a leaf out of their Kiwi counterparts' book and stick to the basics, bowling around the off stump and maintaining consistent lines and lengths. New Zealand’s disciplined approach with the ball paid rich dividends, and if Zimbabwe are to make any inroads with the ball, their seamers will have to replicate that level of accuracy and patience. Back in a bit for the start of New Zealand's reply.

Apart from Taylor and Tsiga, the rest of the Zimbabwean batters let themselves down with their shot selection. After being 83/4 at one stage, the hosts capitulated following Taylor’s dismissal. For New Zealand, Matt Henry set the tone with a probing opening spell, and it wasn’t long before Zakary Foulkes joined the act. The Kiwi bowlers made excellent use of the lateral movement on offer, consistently chipping away at the wickets to keep the pressure firmly on Zimbabwe. Henry finished with a

A dismal showing with the bat from Zimbabwe! 125 marks their lowest score in this home season of Test cricket. On a wicket with less grass compared to the first Test and the steep bounce not as much, the hosts will be disappointed with their batting display. Brendan Taylor and Tafadzwa Tsiga demonstrated that the pitch wasn’t a minefield by any means. There were runs on offer for those willing to dig in and apply themselves.

Matthew Fisher to Tanaka Chivanga, ! GONE! CAUGHT! A special moment for debutant Matthew Fisher as he registers his maiden Test wicket!

Matthew Fisher to Tanaka Chivanga, Nagging length, outside off, Chivanga shoulders arms as the ball straightens off the deck.

Matthew Fisher to Tanaka Chivanga, Another short delivery, outside off, Tanaka Chivanga tries to ride the bounce and work it square on the off side, but misses as the ball passes above his angled bat.

Matthew Fisher to Tanaka Chivanga, Attacks the stumps, full and slants into the batter, Tanaka Chivanga does well to play that back to the bowler.

Matthew Fisher to Tanaka Chivanga, Slams the deck hard, short and outside off, Chivanga lets it be.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, ! Crucial runs these for Zimbabwe and Tafadzwa Tsiga moves into his 30s! Fuller delivery, tailing into the leg stump. Tafadzwa Tsiga tilts forward and uses his wrists to flick it to the right of mid-wicket for a boundary.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Goes too full, almost a yorker outside off, as Tafadzwa Tsiga digs it out from the toe end of the bat.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Around the fifth stump, on a good length, Tafadzwa Tsiga hangs his bat in the air to leave.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Wide yorker, outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga bends and squirts it out to the gully region.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Spears in on good length, around middle and off, shaping away late to square up Tafadzwa Tsiga, as he jabs it down with a vertical bat.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Cuts into the batter, on a shortish length. Tafadzwa Tsiga hops on the toes and cuts it square to deep point. They do not cross over.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Short-pitched delivery, climbing at the shoulder height. Tafadzwa Tsiga stands tall, and pulls it to deep square leg for an easy single to retain the strike.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Matthew Fisher goes wide off the crease and darts this one outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga goes for a lazy drive, as the ball just whistles past the outside edge.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Short and climbs over and outside off. Tafadzwa Tsiga ignores and leaves.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Fisher responds with a skiddy short delivery, on middle. Tafadzwa Tsiga swivels for the pull but misses and is hit on the body. The ball deflects and rolls into the off side.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, ! A bit streaky but will do! Short of a good length, outside off. Tafadzwa Tsiga plays with a horizontal bat to work it off side, but gets it off the thickish outside edge and the ball shoots between the second slip and gully for a boundary at deep third.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Matthew Fisher is back into the attack, replacing Zakary Foulkes. Hits the hard length, outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets behind the line and taps it out to cover.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, A steep bumper by Duffy, in the line of the stumps. Tanaka Chivanga dodges it by ducking underneath.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, No run.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Whoa! Duffy misses the radar completely and sprays it way down leg on a length. Tafadzwa Tsiga lets it pass. Tom Blundell moves to his left but fails to gather the ball cleanly and parries it behind for a bye.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Hits the deck hard, around off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets on the back foot and knocks it to cover.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, No run.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Played well into the gap. Fuller from Duffy, outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga leans into the shot and caresses it through covers for a couple as deep point cuts it off to his right.

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Wide on off, on a good length, Tanaka makes the leave.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Pitched up, on the pads line, Tafadzwa Tsiga clips that away down to fine leg for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Fuller and fairly outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga pokes at the delivery, away from the body, and is beaten past the outside edge.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, No run.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Good length delivery, shaping into the batter, outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga presses forwards and dabs it down towards gully.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Another confident appeal for LBW, but not given! Drifts it on the leg stump line, on a fuller length. Tafadzwa Tsiga tries to push it to the leg side, but plays over the line and the ball thuds the front pad. Possibly, this too, did enough to go down the leg stump line. Under constant examination, are the Zimbabwean batters here as Foulkes searches for his maiden Test five-for.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, Fired on the fuller length, in front of the middle pole. Tanaka Chivanga brings the bat down in time to clonk it to the short leg fielder.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, Bangs in short again, on the body line near the leg stump, Tanaka Chivanga ducks it under safely.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, Folds away from the batter, short and outside off, Tanaka arches back to leave.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, Slants into the batter, full and on the leg stump. Tanaka Chivanga watchfully blocks it to the leg side.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On the fuller side, outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga mistimes the drive to the cover region.

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Fuller delivery, around off, Tanaka Chivanga leans forward and defends it to cover.

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, A huge appeal for LBW, but the umpire does not entertain it! Looks to be doing a bit too much to go down leg. Jags back in from the deck, on a length, on middle. Tanaka Chivanga is pinned in the crease and tries to block it out, but plays all over it and is rapped on the front pad. 

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Sharp bouncer, on the leg stump line. Tanaka Chivanga ducks under the ball. 

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Very full and around middle and off. Tanaka Chivanga stabs it to the right of the bowler. Zakary Foulkes dives to his right on the follow-through, but the ball evades him and rolls down to the mid on region.

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Lands a well-directed bouncer, around the middle and off, as Tanaka Chivanga ducks it under.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Into the pitch, short and on the bodyline, Tafadzwa Tsiga stands tall and pulls it to deep square leg. And this time, Tsiga does rotate the strike on the first ball. 

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, Edged and safe! Nips away from the batter, on a fullish length. Tanaka Chivanga brings the bat in front to defend, but gets a thick outside edge towards the second slip and is parried to the right. The man from gully chases it down. They do not run.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, A swing and a miss! Jacob Duffy bowls it full and outside off, swinging away from the batter, as Tanaka Chivanga looks to smash that through the off side.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Touch full and on the stumps, Tafadzwa Tsiga drills it straight down the ground, between mid on and mid off for a single. Turns down the second one, does Tsiga and leaves Chivanga for two deliveries.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, An appeal for caught behind, but only Tom Blundell is interested! Short and sliding down leg. Tafadzwa Tsiga swivels and looks to pull, but misses and Blundell collects it to his left at chest height.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On a good length, angling in around middle and leg, Tafadzwa Tsiga works it to square leg and does not take the single.

DRINKS BREAK. New Zealand have managed to maintain relentless pressure on the hosts and have picked up five wickets in the first hour of the afternoon session, currently dictating all terms and conditions. Matt Henry has registered his second five-wicket haul of the series, but the highlight has been the debutant, Zakary Foulkes who has four big wickets to his name. Zimbabwe have failed to string stable partnerships and have constantly lost one wicket after the other, as has been the case for

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, EDGED AND ! Lucky!

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, ! Easily done! Zakary Foulkes looks to get the yorker in but ends up serving a low full toss, on off, Tanaka drives it down the ground to the right of mid off for a boundary.

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Full and onto the stumps, Tanaka Chivanga blocks it down with a straight bat.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On the shorter side, around off, Tsiga rides the bounce and controls the pull in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On a short of a length, on the off stump, stabbed down the deck.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nagging length, outside off, beats the outside edge of Tafadzwa Tsiga as he looks to play that away from his body.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Sprayed down leg, on a back of a length, Tafadzwa Tsiga misses out on the tickle.

Matt Henry to Tanaka Chivanga, Full and on middle and leg, Tanaka Chivanga keeps it out on the leg side.

Matt Henry to Blessing Muzarabani, ! TIMBER! FIVE WICKETS FOR HENRY! Back-to-back first inning five-wicket hauls for the Kiwi pacer.

Tanaka Chivanga is the last batter in for Zimbabwe.

Matt Henry to Blessing Muzarabani, And again! On a good length, outside off, Blessing Muzarabani clears the front leg out of the way and flays but misses.

Matt Henry to Blessing Muzarabani, No run.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On the off stump, on a good length, Tsiga covers the line and blocks it out.

Zakary Foulkes to Blessing Muzarabani, Full and drifting onto the pads, Blessing Muzarabani gets low and flicks it through mid-wicket. Matt Henry gives it a chase and hauls it in with a slide. Two runs taken.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Bangs in short, around the left shoulder, Tafadzwa Tsiga swivels and pulls that to the fine leg region to rotate the strike.

Zakary Foulkes to Blessing Muzarabani, On middle and leg, on a good length, Blessing Muzarabani is deep in his crease. Drops his bat down on the ball and an outside edge is squirted wide of cover. Blessing is called through for a single by Tsiga.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, A bumper at chest height, on middle and leg, Tafadzwa Tsiga swivels and controls the pull down to deep fine leg for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nip-backer, near the off pole, on a length, goes past the gap between bat and wicket, as Tafadzwa Tsiga gets late on his defense.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Sprayed down leg, Tafadzwa Tsiga lets it go.

Matt Henry to Vincent Masekesa, ! CLEANED HIM UP! An absolute seed by Matt Henry! This angles into the right-hander, on a good length, Vincent Masekesa just hangs his bat out to cover the line whilst staying leg side of the ball. The ball straightens off the deck to go past the outside edge and uproot the off pole. Fourth wicket for Henry. Vincent falls for 1 (9). Zimbabwe are now 94/8.

Blessing Muzarabani is in at 10.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On the hips, back of good length, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets behind the line and tucks it away for a single in the deep square leg.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Fuller in length, on off, Tsiga eases the drive to mid off.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On the off stump, on a nagging length, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets on top of it and solidly keeps it out.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, A touch short, around off, the batter gets behind the ball and daps it down.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, In the channel on off, on a good length, Tsiga pokes but is lucky not to nick this one behind.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, At the stumps, on a good length, Vincent Masekesa gets right behind it.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, On a length, on the off stump, Vincet pats it down on the off side.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Zakary goes into the surface, over middle, Tafadzwa Tsiga swivels and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, Fuller in length, on middle, Vincent tucks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, In the channel on off, on a back of a length, Vincent stays leg side of the ball and fiddles at the delivery. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, Banged in short, over middle, Vincent Masekesa tries to take the short ball on and swings for it. The ball sails over the bat.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, ! Lovely stroke! Fuller and on middle, Tafadzwa Tsiga presents the full face of the bat and works it to the right of the man at silly mid on for a boundary.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 2 runs.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On a good length, on middle, Tsiga clips it wide of mid on to his right. Seeing Tsiga take a step forward, Vincent Masekesa sets off for the run before being sent back by his partner. A wayward throw at the bowling end allows Vincent to get back with a dive.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, No run.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Fuller in length, around off, Tsiga knocks it to the left of the bowler and wide enough of the man at mid off. Two runs taken.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On a length, on off, Tsiga defends it off the front foot.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, On a shortish length, around off, Vincent sways away from the line of the ball.

A slight halt in play as Vincent Masekesa looks in a bit of discomfort after taking a blow right on the box. The physio is out to tend to him as he stretches a bit to relax himself up. Looks fine to continue after sipping in some water.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, No run.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, Ouch, Vincent Masekesa has copped it on the box!

Vincent Masekesa is in at 9.

Zakary Foulkes to Trevor Gwandu, ! PLUMB IN FRONT! Two in the over for Zakary Foulkes and Zimbabwe are falling apart here. Slanting into the right-hander, on the fuller side, on off and middle, Trevor presses forward and ends up defending outside the line of the ball. Presents a straight bat but the ball sneaks past the inside edge to hit him on the back pad. The Kiwis go up in unison and the finger is raised.

Zakary Foulkes to Trevor Gwandu, Banged in short, over middle, Trevor Gwandu ducks under it.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, ! CAUGHT! New Zealand go bang, bang! Sikandar Raza falls into the trap! On a back of a length, angled into the pads from over the wicket, Raza hops and gets inside the line to glance it towards deep fine leg. Fails to keep the shot along the ground and plays it straight into the hands of leg gully where Rachin Ravindra pouches it at waist height.

Trevor Gwandu is in at 8.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, At the stumps, slightly fuller, Tafadzwa Tsiga pushes it to the man at silly mid on.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On a length, on off, Tsiga knocks it to cover.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, This nips away off the deck, on a good length, Tsiga defends inside the line and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, No run.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, ! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal! A big blow for Zimbabwe as the promising-looking Taylor falls. This is on a back of a length, on off, Brendan Taylor gets on his toes to punch it away on the off side. The ball holds in the wicket and Brendan is through his shot early. Ends up hitting it a lot straighter and picks out Mitchell Santner at short mid off to absolute perfection. Henry has his third wicket. Taylor falls for 44 (107). Zimbabwe are now 83/5. 

Tafadzwa Tsiga is in at 7.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Into the wicket, at the right shoulder of the batter, Taylor sways away from the line of the ball.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, A bumper, around the left shoulder of the batter, Sikandar Raza ducks under it.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Fuller in length, on middle, knocked to mid on by Raza.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Back to bowling it short, over middle, Raza gets inside the line and drops his wrists.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Full and on middle, blocked out with a straight bat.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, On a short of a length, outside off, Raza shuffles across and gets on his toes to dab it down the deck.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Bangs it in short, does Zakary, around leg, Sikandar Raza gets inside the line and ducks.

Matt Henry to Sikandar Raza, This nips back in and hurries the batter up, on a nagging length. Sikandar drops his bat down on the ball and squirts an inside edge to deep fine leg for a single.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, At the pads, Taylor glances it down to deep fine leg for a single.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, On middle and leg, on a back of a length, Taylor looks to help it away but fails to lay any bat on it. The ball lobs off the thigh pad in front of backward square leg.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Honing in on the off stump and the length stays full, Taylor brings his bat out in front to keep it out.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Fuller and on off, patted down on the off side.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, A bit of nip back into the right-hander, on a short of a length, Taylor is deep in his crease and plays the initial line. Gets beaten on the inside edge due to the movement and gets rapped on the thigh pad.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Drags the length back, on middle, Brendan hangs back and drops it with soft hands beside the strip on the leg side for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, ! Rinse and repeat of the third ball of the over! Another full ball from Foulkes, Taylor does not try to overhit this one. Just times the drive to the left of mid on for four more.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Keeps it full, around off, Brendan presses forward to push it through mid off. Miscues it off the inner half to mid-wicket.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Low full toss, outside off, Taylor opens the bat face slightly and guides it to the left of cover-point. Henry Nicholls is quick to get the dive in and prevents the ball from going past him.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On middle, on a good length, turned to square leg by Taylor.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, ! Glorious! Pitched up, on middle, Brendan Taylor presents the full face of the bat and just eases the drive to the left of mid on for a boundary.

Matt Henry to Sikandar Raza, This cuts back in off the deck, that in-between length, on middle, Sikandar Raza plays outside the line and is beaten on the inside edge. Gets rapped high on the front pad.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Too full, too straight, on the pads, Taylor helps it down to deep fine leg. It is cut off by the sliding deep fine leg fielder to his right. They cross.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, In the channel on off, on a length, left alone by Brendan.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Just outside the off pole, on a good length, stabbed down on the off side.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Sliding down leg, on a length, Taylor misses out on the tickle.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, On the off stump, on a good length, Taylor covers the line and defends.

Who bowls next?

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Sprayed down leg, on a short of a length, left alone by SR.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, At the stumps, on a good length, Sikandar Raza walks across and brings his bat out in front of the front pad to block.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, This is dug in short, over middle and leg, Sikandar Raza ducks under it.

Welcome back for the post-Lunch session. The Kiwis spread out to the field and take their respective fielding positions. Brendan Taylor is joined by Sikandar Raza to the crease. Zakary Foulkes to continue and resume his over. Here we go...

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, ! Edged away! On a good length, just outside the off stump, Sikandar hops and tries to get behind the line. Raza gets squared up as the ball moves away to catch the outside edge. It goes down and through the gap between second slip and gully for a boundary.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Starts with a short ball from over the wicket, over middle, Raza gets inside the line and lets the ball go through.

... DAY 1, SECOND SESSION ...

The blueprint of New Zealand’s pace attack was quite simple. Pitch it persistently in and around off, and trust the ball to do the talking. Zakary Foulkes, on debut, followed the same script and was rewarded with the prized wicket of Sean Williams, deepening Zimbabwe’s troubles. At 43 for 3, the top order had already taken a significant hit. Hence, they couldn't keep the scorecard ticking along. And just as the partnership between skipper Ervine and Taylor was blossoming, Zakary Foulkes nick

There hasn't been much steep bounce on offer, but the surface provided enough lateral movement to keep the batters honest. The occasional ball kicked awkwardly off a length, adding to the uncertainty. In the midst of it all, Brendon Taylor brought calm. He let the ball come to him, played with soft hands, and avoided anything extravagant. Welch supported him with a brief but valuable stand, before Henry removed him just before the drinks break.

It was a probing start for Zimbabwe’s batters, with New Zealand’s pacers operating like seasoned interrogators. Matt Henry struck in the third over, drawing Brian Bennett into a false stroke with a delivery that shaped away just enough. He nearly had two in two, but Will Young couldn’t hold on to a sharp chance at second slip of Nick Welch. Jacob Duffy complemented Henry well, maintaining a tight channel and letting the pitch do the rest.

SESSION SUMMARY - 28.1 Overs, 67 Runs, 4 Wickets. A very disappointing morning session for Zimbabwe as they have lost four big wickets. Zimbabwe’s batters managed to get a few starts, but none could carry on against New Zealand’s disciplined and controlled pace attack. The bowlers kept things simple, yet highly effective, and the dismissal of Craig Ervine right on the stroke of lunch added further pressure on the hosts.

Zakary Foulkes to Craig Ervine, ! CAUGHT! Craig Ervine falls right on the stroke of Lunch! The move to call upon Zakary Foulkes for the last over before the break has worked like a charm for Mitchell Santner and New Zealand. From around the wicket, Foulkes serves it on a length, around the sixth stump line, Ervine is better off leaving the ball alone but ends up pushing at the ball with hard hands. Looks to go down the ground but there is just enough movement off the deck to catch th

Into the final over before Lunch, then. Change of Zakary Foulkes (7-3-11-1). He replaces Matt Fisher.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, This is darted onto the off stump, on a length, Brendan Taylor defends it off the front foot.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, Slower and wider on off, Taylor lunges and taps it to cover.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, ! Smashed! Floated up, fractionally wide on off, Taylor transfers his weight onto the front foot and drills it to the left of short cover for a boundary.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, Full and on the off stump, Brendan plants his front foot across and blocks it out.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, Looped up, full and around off, driven to cover.

With just a couple of minutes remaining until Lunch, this might well be the final over of the session. A change in bowling as skipper Mitchell Santner replaces Zakary Foulkes.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, No run.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Delivers it on a short of a length, on middle, nudged off the back foot to mid-wicket.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, On the off stump, on a good length, Craig Ervine meets the ball right under his eyes and blocks it out.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, A short ball by Fisher, slanting down leg, Craig Ervine ducks under it.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Fuller in length, on the off stump, Ervine drives it to cover.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, So close! On a good length, angled in from around the wicket, on the line of the off stump, Craig Ervine waits back to defend. The ball straightens off the deck to whistle past the outside edge.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, 1 run.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On off, on a short of a length, Brendan Taylor hops to keep it out. Gets an inside edge that trickles past the stumps and rolls behind on the leg side for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Banged in short, around the left shoulder, Taylor gets inside the line and thinks about taking the short ball on intially before dropping his wrists to let the ball go.

Zakary Foulkes to Craig Ervine, That in-between length, on middle and leg, Ervine helps it around towards backward square leg for one.

Zakary Foulkes to Craig Ervine, Brings the line closer to the off stump and makes the batter play, on a length, Ervine is late to get on the front foot and hangs his bat out to play the line. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

Zakary Foulkes to Craig Ervine, Bowled from wide on the crease from the around-the-wicket angle, full and outside off, Ervine thought about going for the drive before deciding to leave the ball alone.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Strays onto the pads, on a good length, tickled down to deep fine leg for a single.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, On a good length, on middle, Craig Ervine goes deep in the crease to keep it out.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Very full, honing in at the stumps, Craig Ervine drives it down the ground. Gets it off the toe end of the bat, but manages to beat mid on to his right and collects a couple of runs.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Fisher goes short, over off, Ervine ducks.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, This is bowled into the deck, over off, Craig Ervine stabs it down on the off side.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Slightly wider on off, on a good length, Ervine plays inside the line and is beaten on the outside edge.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, On a good length, angled in and then it nips away. Craig Ervine looks to cover the line with a straight bat but is beaten as the ball leaves him.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Into the wicket, over middle, Taylor ducks.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Play and a miss! This goes away off the deck, on a good length, Taylor goes fishing at the delivery away from his body but is lucky not to nick this one behind.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, This jags back in, on a nagging length, on middle, Brendan Taylor hops to deal with it but the ball cuts back into him and kicks up a bit to catch him on the thigh pad.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On a short of a length, on off, punched to mid off.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, A lot fuller, on off, Taylor sets up to drive it through mid off but miscues it off the inner half to mid on.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, No run.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, Fuller and outside off, Taylor gets forward slightly and eases it wide of cover for a single.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, Fisher goes into the surface, outside off, Brendan stays leg side of the ball and gets on top of it. Knocks it through covers for a couple of runs.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Leg bye! At the hips, Craig misses out on the tickle. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads towards deep fine leg.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, ! Slightly uppish but in the gap! Fractionally wide on off, on the shorter side, Ervine stands tall and punches it in the gap between backward point and gully for a boundary.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, On a hard length, outside off, Ervine gets on his toes to punch it away. Toe-ends it to cover.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, A short ball from Fisher, Craig Ervine ducks under it.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, In the channel on off, Brendan Taylor lets it be.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On a good length, on middle, Taylor gets behind it but the ball cuts back to catch an inside edge. It is squeezed to square leg.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Banged in short, over the off stump, Brendan Taylor bends, drops his wrists and lets the ball go through.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Outside off, on a good length, left alone by BT.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, ! Gets it through! On a shortish length, outside off, Taylor rises with the bounce and plays it late. Glides it to the left of backward point. Rachin Ravindra gives it a long chase and puts in a slide at the end but in vain.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On off, blocked out by Brendan.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Even fuller, on off, Craig knocks it back to Matthew.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Attacking the stumps, on a length, flicked to mid-wicket where Matt Henry moves to his left and cuts it off.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Goes fuller this time, outside off, Ervine shoulders arms.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, An effort ball from Fisher as this is dug in short, over off, Craig Ervine rides the bounce and keeps it out.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, This is a bit too wide to make the batter play, on a good length, Craig lets it pass.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, No run.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, A bumper from Zakary, around off, Brendan arches back to get under the ball and ramp it over the keeper but misses.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Foulkes keeps it outside off, Taylor lets it through.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, That tempting length for the drive, full and outside off, Brendan Taylor offers no shot.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Pitched up, outside off, Taylor leaves the ball alone.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Wide! Zakary goes short on middle, but this sails over the batter's head. BT sways away from the line of the ball.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Fuller in length, around off, Taylor blocks it out with his bat close to the front pad.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Hurls it on a good length, on the off stump, Brendan Taylor covers the off stump and defends.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Outside the off stump, on a good length, Ervine holds his bat high to make the leave.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, On a nagging length, outside off, Craig Ervine lets it be.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, Full and at the stumps, Brendan clips it between mid-wicket and mid on. Matt Henry at mid on cuts it off with a dive to his right.  They cross.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, Fuller in length, on the off stump, Taylor leans ahead to defend. Gets it off the outer half to gully.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, No run.

Another debutant for New Zealand, Matthew Fisher, is introduced into the attack. He replaces Matt Henry.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, No run.

Zakary Foulkes to Craig Ervine, On a length, outside off, Craig Ervine plays inside the line and is beaten on the outside edge.

Zimbabwean skipper, Craig Ervine, is in at 5.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, ! EDGED AND GONE! This was coming! Third time's the charm for Zakary Foulkes! Will Young makes no mistake this time and Foulkes has his first Test wicket.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, And again! Closer to the off stump,on a length, Sean Williams presents a straight bat and instead of allowing the ball to come to him, he pushes in front of his body. The ball goes away to beat Sean on the outside edge.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, Lovely bowling! Fuller in length, on off, Sean's feet go nowhere and he just pushes at the delivery in front of his body with his hands. The ball nips away to leave him.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, Around the off stump, on a good length, stabbed down on the off side.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, Moving away off the deck, on a good length, Sean Williams shoulders arms.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Well outside off, left alone by BT.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, On the off stump and full in length, Brendan Taylor blocks it out.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Beaten! In the corridor of off and on a good length, Taylor hops to get closer to the line of the ball and fishes at the delivery before withdrawing his bat.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, On the fuller side, on middle and leg, Brendan clips it to the left of mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Matt Henry to Sean Williams, Almost dragged it back onto the stumps! This cuts back into the left-hander, on a good length, Sean goes searching for the line with his hands. Gets an inside edge that sneaks past the leg stump and rolls down to deep fine leg for one.

Matt Henry to Sean Williams, ! Gap picked with surgical precision! This is banged in short from around the wicket, on middle, Sean gets on his toes and lifts his front leg. Rolls his wrists over the ball and helps the pull right between deep square leg and deep fine leg for a boundary.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, That in-between length, outside off, steered to gully by Taylor.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, Angled into the pads from wide of the crease, Sean turns it to the left of square leg for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, Short of a length, outside off, Sean Williams pushes away from his body and gets it to the left of backward point for a brace.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, In the channel on off, on a good length, left alone by Williams.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, No run.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, A peach of a delivery from Zakary Foulkes! Goes wide on the crease on the around-the-wicket angle and slants it into the left-hander, around the line of the off stump, Sean gets his bat out in front to cover the line but the ball straightens to go past the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, The length is pulled back, on off, Taylor punches it to cover off the back foot.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, On a good length, on off, Brendan sets up to defend and an outside edge is squirted down towards gully.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Taken at short leg and New Zealand go up in unison! Alex Wharf shakes his head. This nips back, on a good length, on middle and leg, Taylor brings his bat out in front for the block but the ball misses the inside edge by a long way and lobs off the front pad to Rachin Ravindra at short leg.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Fuller in length, on off, Taylor's feet are rooted to the crease and he tentatively pushes it to mid off.

Matt Henry to Sean Williams, Henry bends his back and bangs it into the surface, over middle, Sean Williams arches back and rides the bounce to angle it down. Guides it past gully and Will Young goes after it. Young puts in a dive and flicks the ball away from the fence towards the fielder backing up. Sean is off the mark with three runs.

DRINKS BREAK!  A testing first hour for Zimbabwe, pretty much on expected lines. They lost Brian Bennett early and if not for the dropped catch on the first ball he faced, Nick Welch would have been back in the hut much earlier. On his return, Brendan Taylor has looked solid. For New Zealand, Matt Henry has picked up right where he left off in the first Test, probing relentlessly and asking all the tough questions of the Zimbabwean batters. There hasn’t quite been the occasional steep boun

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, ! LBW! A ripper of a delivery from Matt Henry and he gets his second wicket of the morning! 

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Around off, on a good length, Taylor punches it off the back foot to cover.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, A bit of a wayward start for Zakary Foulkes! Slides it down leg, Taylor does not poke at the harmless delivery. 

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On a hard length, around off, Brendan Taylor plays close to the body on the back foot and taps it in thereabouts of the point region.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Down the leg stump line, again, on a length. Brendan Taylor leaves it again.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Slides it down leg, on a length, Taylor gets inside the line to leave.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Starts from over the stumps. Shortish, cutting in from off, Taylor stands tall and turns it to square leg.

Time for the first bowling change of the morning. Zakary Foulkes comes into the attack on his Test debut.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Full and angling on middle and leg. Brendan Taylor flicks it to the right of short leg. Rachin Ravindra gets it parried behind off his hands and the batters cross for a single.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Length, on middle, Brendan tucks it to short leg.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, BEATEN! Cuts away from the batter, on a length around off. Taylor gets a feel for it and goes to poke, but is beaten on the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Nips into the batter, full and on off, Welch gets on the front foot to push to the off side, but gets an inside edge. The ball passes close to the stumps and runs toward deep fine leg fence. It is intercepted by the man who slides to his right from deep backward square leg. A single taken.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Fuller than a length, on off, Welch pushes it to mid off.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Hits the length on off, Nick Welch taps it to the point region and looks to steal a single, but is sent back by Taylor on a sharp call.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Fractionally full, outside off, Brendan Taylor opts to leave.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, On a back of a length, at off, Brendan Taylor gets on the back foot and knocks it to mid on.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Bashes the length hard, on top of off. Brendan Taylor lets the ball arrive and dabs it with soft hands to the point region.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Nagging length, swinging away a bit, outside off. Taylor offers no shot.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, ! Excellent shot! Short and outside off. Brendan Taylor sees the width, weighs on the back foot and cuts it over the cover-point region for a boundary.  The partnership grows to 27.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Full and straight, on off, Taylor defends it watchfully.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Back of a length, outside off, Nick Welch tries to leave, but is a bit late to get his bat away from the line and the ball is dabbed to the slip cordon.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Around off, and short. Welch lets it through as it curves away late.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, WIDE! Dug into the pitch, but sliding down leg, Nick Welch leaves and a Wide is called for height.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Stays low on the bounce, on a length, around middle. Brendan Taylor tucks it through backward square leg for a single.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Down leg, on a length, Taylor leaves.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, A real beauty from Henry! Length ball, veering into the batter off the deck. Brendan Taylor covers the off stump, gets on the front foot and decides to leave.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Short and on middle, Brendan Taylor hops off and tucks it on the bounce to short leg.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Keeps the line outside off, on a short length. Nick Welch lets it pass behind to the keeper.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Swinging away from outside off, on a good length. Nick Welch leaves. Not much of a bounce on this one as the keeper has to bend low to collect it.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Shortish delivery, but fairly outside off. Nick Welch ignores and lets it be.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Outside off, length, left alone.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, On a good length, angled onto the pads, Nick Welch steers it to the square leg region.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Quick tap and run! Fuller delivery, around off, Brendan Taylor leans and eases the ball to the point region for a quick single.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, ! Powered away! Henry pitches it fuller than a length, on off, Nick Welch gets on the front foot and smashes it a bit uppishly, but to the right of the leaping cover fielder for a boundary.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, BEAUTY! In the channel of off, on a length. Nick Welch is forced to play at it and looks to block, but the ball straightens off the deck and beats the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, On a length, at off, Nick Welch meets the ball under his eyes and blocks.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Swinging away from the batter, on a length, outside off. Nick Welch is squared up and just manages to drag the bat inside the line to make the leave.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, On a back of a length, on middle and leg. Nick Welch hops on the crease and nudges it to the mid-wicket region.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, ! Timed and placed really well! Overpitched delivery on middle. Nick Welch weighs on the front foot and flicks it through the vacant mid on region for a boundary.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Close leave! Around the fifth stump line, on a fullish length, Brendan Taylor trusts the ball to go straight on and leaves.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Good length, and outside off, left alone.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, A huge appeal for LBW, but not given! That looked really close in real-time! Slants into the batter, does Duffy, on a hard length. Brendan Taylor plays all over it on the front foot and is beaten on the inside edge, before being rapped on the front knee roll.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Full and outside off, swinging away late. Nick Welch gets on the front foot and pushes it between backward point and gully. Devon Conway from gully chases it to his right and the batters cross for a single.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, On a good length, around off, Nick Welch hangs back in the crease to block it off.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Gets it to jag back into the batter, on a length, around off. Nick Welch leaves it alone.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Bangs it short and outside off, Brendan Taylor is beaten on the outside edge as he looks to play at it.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Fuller and shaping away from middle. Brendan Taylor pushes it firmly to the mid on region. Matthew Fisher from short mid-wicket dives to his left and fumbles to stop. The ball is parried through mid on and Fisher chases it down before the ropes. Two taken.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Henry goes fuller now, outside off, Brendan Taylor strides forward and taps it to backward point.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Slams the deck hard, does Matt, on off and short, and nipping away a shy bit. Brendan Taylor drops his wrists down in time to leave.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Outswinger on a shorter length, outside off, Brendan Taylor leans back to let it be.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Pitched fuller and on middle, solidly blocked by Taylor.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Short of a length, on off, punched to the cover-point region.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Back of a length, jagging in from off. Nick Welch offers no shot and wears on the thigh pad. The ball then lobs behind, and goes through the slip cordon to the deep third region.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, On off and full, Nick Welch strides forward and drives it straight to the cover fielder.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Pulls the length back, outside off, Nick Welch keeps his bat inside the line as it shapes away back to the keeper.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, On the stumps and full, Nick leans forward and watchfully blocks it straight.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Full and on middle, Brendan Taylor pushes it to the left of mid on. The fielder there tries to stop by diving, but fumbles and the ball is parried behind. A single taken.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, A stifled appeal for LBW, but the finger stays down again. The impact looked outside the line there. Good length, nipping into the batter around off. Brendan Taylor is beaten on the inside edge and the ball lobs off the thigh pad, and rolls wide of gully for a leg bye.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Back of a length, on the leg stump. Brendan Taylor nudges it to wide square leg for a couple of runs.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, A huge appeal for LBW, but the umpire, Alex Wharf, says no! Remember, there's no DRS in this series. Sharply jags back off the length, on middle and leg. Brendan Taylor shapes to work that across to the leg side, but plays over the wrong line and wears on the flap of the front pad. Probably height has saved Brendan here.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Welch is off the mark! On middle, on a good length. Nick Welch gets on the front foot and works it to the mid-wicket region for a single.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Outside off, on a length, Welch offers no shot.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Length-delivery, on off, Welch defends it out.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Hits the deck hard, on off, Taylor gets behind the line to block it off the back foot.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, ! First runs off the bat for Zimbabwe and Brendan Taylor, but in a streaky fashion. 

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Keeps the stumps in play, does Duffy, on a length, Brendan Taylor covers the line and flicks it to short mid-wicket.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Banged halfway, short and outside off, Brendan Taylor rides the bounce and taps it with soft hands to point.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, In front of the stumps, on a length, Brendan Taylor takes a good stride forward and blocks it solidly.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, On a hard length, around off, blocked out to short cover.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, BEATEN! Short of a good length outside off, swings away. Welch prods forward to defend, but gets beaten on the outside edge as the ball shapes away late.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, No run.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, EDGED AND ! It would have been an action-replay had Will Young managed to cling to the catch! This again leaves the batter off the pitch, on a slightly fuller length. Nick Welch plays at it and gets an outside edge. The ball dips low to the left of Will Young at second slip. Will gets low, even gets his hands on the ball, but fails to cleanly catch it. 

Nick Welch walks in at number 3.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, ! c Will Young b Matt Henry.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, Action-replay! On a short of a length, around the fourth, shaping away off the pitch. Brian Bennett looks to block but the ball beats the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, Well bowled! Pitches on off, on a shortish length, and then gets it to deviate away from the batter. Brian Bennett plays inside the line to block and is beaten on the outside edge.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, The length is pulled back by a yard, but the line is the same, outside off. Brendan Taylor watches if closely before leaving.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, On a fullish length, outside off, nipping away. Taylor does the same. Leaves it alone for the keeper to collect.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Keeps it outside off, on a good length, Taylor shoulders arms as it cuts away late.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Shapes away after pitching, outside off, on a length, Taylor lets it be.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Similar length, on off, Taylor lets the ball come at him and defends it.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, No ball!

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, No run.

One of three debutants for New Zealand in this game, Jacob Duffy will operate from the other end.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, Angling into the batter, on a hard length. This beats the inside edge and hits Brian on the back thigh. A maiden to start with for Matt Henry!

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, No run.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, No run.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, And again! Pitched on a good length, around off, just straightens enough to beat the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, BEAUTY! Nip-backer on a good length, around off. Bennett pushes at the delivery and the ball sneaks through the gap between bat and pad on the way to the keeper.

We are all set to get going in Bulawayo. Making a much-anticipated return to the international fold after three and a half years, Brendan Taylor walks out to open the innings alongside Brian Bennett. It is a symbolic second innings in Taylor’s international career, and adding to the emotion of the moment, his parents are in attendance to witness this special occasion.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, No run.

PITCH REPORT - Ed Rainsford is near the deck. He shares that it's a beautiful day in Bulawayo, with the country slowly creeping into the summer months. Scott Styris joins him and informs that the surface for this Test is different from the previous one. Adds that it is a little drier and without much visible moisture. Scott believes it looks like a good wicket to bat on. Mentions that if the bounce remains consistent, there will be runs to be had.

New Zealand head coach, Rob Walter, says the guys adapted well to the conditions and that they kept getting better and better. Stresses that it was good to see how their bowlers responded to the conditions. Highlights that they have come off a good T20 diet and were a bit on the aggressive side as well. Says they gave the guys an off for a couple of days for conditioning and had two really good training days as well. On the team combinations, he adds it's an exciting time for New Zealand cricket

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Devon Conway, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Mitchell Santner (C), Zakary Foulkes (On debut) (In for Michael Bracewell), Matt Henry, Matthew Fisher (On debut) (In for Nathan Smith), Jacob Duffy (On debut) (In for Will O’Rourke).

The captain of Zimbabwe, Craig Ervine, says the wicket looks a lot better with less grass. He expects it to play well this time around as compared to the last Test. On the learnings from the previous game, he says they will try to make improvements in all departments. Reflects that the guys have worked on specifics and are hopeful that they will be able to execute in the match. Informs two changes. Ben Curran makes way for Brendan Taylor and Newman Nyamhuri is out and Trevor Gwandu comes i

The skipper of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner says that he would have bowled first as well. Feels that this is a better wicket compared to the last game. Mentions that there is less grass on the pitch but hopes there is still something in it early on for the pacers. Santner shares that it’s been good to enjoy a bit of downtime, but now it’s back to action mode after a couple of days of training. Informs that they have three debutants in Jacob Duffy, Zakary Foulkes and Matthew Fisher.

Zimbabwe (Playing XI) - Brian Bennett, Brendan Taylor, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine(C), Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga(WK), Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga, Trevor Gwandu. 

All in readiness for New Zealand's response with the bat to get underway. The two umpires and players have made their way out to the centre.

... DAY 1, THIRD SESSION ...

The Zimbabwean pacers will need to take a leaf out of their Kiwi counterparts' book and stick to the basics, bowling around the off stump and maintaining consistent lines and lengths. New Zealand’s disciplined approach with the ball paid rich dividends, and if Zimbabwe are to make any inroads with the ball, their seamers will have to replicate that level of accuracy and patience. Back in a bit for the start of New Zealand's reply.

Apart from Taylor and Tsiga, the rest of the Zimbabwean batters let themselves down with their shot selection. After being 83/4 at one stage, the hosts capitulated following Taylor’s dismissal. For New Zealand, Matt Henry set the tone with a probing opening spell, and it wasn’t long before Zakary Foulkes joined the act. The Kiwi bowlers made excellent use of the lateral movement on offer, consistently chipping away at the wickets to keep the pressure firmly on Zimbabwe. Henry finished with a

A dismal showing with the bat from Zimbabwe! 125 marks their lowest score in this home season of Test cricket. On a wicket with less grass compared to the first Test and the steep bounce not as much, the hosts will be disappointed with their batting display. Brendan Taylor and Tafadzwa Tsiga demonstrated that the pitch wasn’t a minefield by any means. There were runs on offer for those willing to dig in and apply themselves.

Matthew Fisher to Tanaka Chivanga, ! GONE! CAUGHT! A special moment for debutant Matthew Fisher as he registers his maiden Test wicket!

Matthew Fisher to Tanaka Chivanga, Nagging length, outside off, Chivanga shoulders arms as the ball straightens off the deck.

Matthew Fisher to Tanaka Chivanga, Another short delivery, outside off, Tanaka Chivanga tries to ride the bounce and work it square on the off side, but misses as the ball passes above his angled bat.

Matthew Fisher to Tanaka Chivanga, Attacks the stumps, full and slants into the batter, Tanaka Chivanga does well to play that back to the bowler.

Matthew Fisher to Tanaka Chivanga, Slams the deck hard, short and outside off, Chivanga lets it be.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, ! Crucial runs these for Zimbabwe and Tafadzwa Tsiga moves into his 30s! Fuller delivery, tailing into the leg stump. Tafadzwa Tsiga tilts forward and uses his wrists to flick it to the right of mid-wicket for a boundary.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Goes too full, almost a yorker outside off, as Tafadzwa Tsiga digs it out from the toe end of the bat.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Around the fifth stump, on a good length, Tafadzwa Tsiga hangs his bat in the air to leave.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Wide yorker, outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga bends and squirts it out to the gully region.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Spears in on good length, around middle and off, shaping away late to square up Tafadzwa Tsiga, as he jabs it down with a vertical bat.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Cuts into the batter, on a shortish length. Tafadzwa Tsiga hops on the toes and cuts it square to deep point. They do not cross over.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Short-pitched delivery, climbing at the shoulder height. Tafadzwa Tsiga stands tall, and pulls it to deep square leg for an easy single to retain the strike.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Matthew Fisher goes wide off the crease and darts this one outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga goes for a lazy drive, as the ball just whistles past the outside edge.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Short and climbs over and outside off. Tafadzwa Tsiga ignores and leaves.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Fisher responds with a skiddy short delivery, on middle. Tafadzwa Tsiga swivels for the pull but misses and is hit on the body. The ball deflects and rolls into the off side.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, ! A bit streaky but will do! Short of a good length, outside off. Tafadzwa Tsiga plays with a horizontal bat to work it off side, but gets it off the thickish outside edge and the ball shoots between the second slip and gully for a boundary at deep third.

Matthew Fisher to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Matthew Fisher is back into the attack, replacing Zakary Foulkes. Hits the hard length, outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets behind the line and taps it out to cover.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, A steep bumper by Duffy, in the line of the stumps. Tanaka Chivanga dodges it by ducking underneath.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, No run.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Whoa! Duffy misses the radar completely and sprays it way down leg on a length. Tafadzwa Tsiga lets it pass. Tom Blundell moves to his left but fails to gather the ball cleanly and parries it behind for a bye.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Hits the deck hard, around off, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets on the back foot and knocks it to cover.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, No run.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Played well into the gap. Fuller from Duffy, outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga leans into the shot and caresses it through covers for a couple as deep point cuts it off to his right.

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Wide on off, on a good length, Tanaka makes the leave.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Pitched up, on the pads line, Tafadzwa Tsiga clips that away down to fine leg for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Fuller and fairly outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga pokes at the delivery, away from the body, and is beaten past the outside edge.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, No run.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Good length delivery, shaping into the batter, outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga presses forwards and dabs it down towards gully.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Another confident appeal for LBW, but not given! Drifts it on the leg stump line, on a fuller length. Tafadzwa Tsiga tries to push it to the leg side, but plays over the line and the ball thuds the front pad. Possibly, this too, did enough to go down the leg stump line. Under constant examination, are the Zimbabwean batters here as Foulkes searches for his maiden Test five-for.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, Fired on the fuller length, in front of the middle pole. Tanaka Chivanga brings the bat down in time to clonk it to the short leg fielder.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, Bangs in short again, on the body line near the leg stump, Tanaka Chivanga ducks it under safely.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, Folds away from the batter, short and outside off, Tanaka arches back to leave.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, Slants into the batter, full and on the leg stump. Tanaka Chivanga watchfully blocks it to the leg side.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On the fuller side, outside off, Tafadzwa Tsiga mistimes the drive to the cover region.

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Fuller delivery, around off, Tanaka Chivanga leans forward and defends it to cover.

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, A huge appeal for LBW, but the umpire does not entertain it! Looks to be doing a bit too much to go down leg. Jags back in from the deck, on a length, on middle. Tanaka Chivanga is pinned in the crease and tries to block it out, but plays all over it and is rapped on the front pad. 

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Sharp bouncer, on the leg stump line. Tanaka Chivanga ducks under the ball. 

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Very full and around middle and off. Tanaka Chivanga stabs it to the right of the bowler. Zakary Foulkes dives to his right on the follow-through, but the ball evades him and rolls down to the mid on region.

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Lands a well-directed bouncer, around the middle and off, as Tanaka Chivanga ducks it under.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Into the pitch, short and on the bodyline, Tafadzwa Tsiga stands tall and pulls it to deep square leg. And this time, Tsiga does rotate the strike on the first ball. 

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, Edged and safe! Nips away from the batter, on a fullish length. Tanaka Chivanga brings the bat in front to defend, but gets a thick outside edge towards the second slip and is parried to the right. The man from gully chases it down. They do not run.

Jacob Duffy to Tanaka Chivanga, A swing and a miss! Jacob Duffy bowls it full and outside off, swinging away from the batter, as Tanaka Chivanga looks to smash that through the off side.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Touch full and on the stumps, Tafadzwa Tsiga drills it straight down the ground, between mid on and mid off for a single. Turns down the second one, does Tsiga and leaves Chivanga for two deliveries.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, An appeal for caught behind, but only Tom Blundell is interested! Short and sliding down leg. Tafadzwa Tsiga swivels and looks to pull, but misses and Blundell collects it to his left at chest height.

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On a good length, angling in around middle and leg, Tafadzwa Tsiga works it to square leg and does not take the single.

DRINKS BREAK. New Zealand have managed to maintain relentless pressure on the hosts and have picked up five wickets in the first hour of the afternoon session, currently dictating all terms and conditions. Matt Henry has registered his second five-wicket haul of the series, but the highlight has been the debutant, Zakary Foulkes who has four big wickets to his name. Zimbabwe have failed to string stable partnerships and have constantly lost one wicket after the other, as has been the case for

Jacob Duffy to Tafadzwa Tsiga, EDGED AND ! Lucky!

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, ! Easily done! Zakary Foulkes looks to get the yorker in but ends up serving a low full toss, on off, Tanaka drives it down the ground to the right of mid off for a boundary.

Zakary Foulkes to Tanaka Chivanga, Full and onto the stumps, Tanaka Chivanga blocks it down with a straight bat.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On the shorter side, around off, Tsiga rides the bounce and controls the pull in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On a short of a length, on the off stump, stabbed down the deck.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nagging length, outside off, beats the outside edge of Tafadzwa Tsiga as he looks to play that away from his body.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Sprayed down leg, on a back of a length, Tafadzwa Tsiga misses out on the tickle.

Matt Henry to Tanaka Chivanga, Full and on middle and leg, Tanaka Chivanga keeps it out on the leg side.

Matt Henry to Blessing Muzarabani, ! TIMBER! FIVE WICKETS FOR HENRY! Back-to-back first inning five-wicket hauls for the Kiwi pacer.

Tanaka Chivanga is the last batter in for Zimbabwe.

Matt Henry to Blessing Muzarabani, And again! On a good length, outside off, Blessing Muzarabani clears the front leg out of the way and flays but misses.

Matt Henry to Blessing Muzarabani, No run.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 1 run.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On the off stump, on a good length, Tsiga covers the line and blocks it out.

Zakary Foulkes to Blessing Muzarabani, Full and drifting onto the pads, Blessing Muzarabani gets low and flicks it through mid-wicket. Matt Henry gives it a chase and hauls it in with a slide. Two runs taken.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Bangs in short, around the left shoulder, Tafadzwa Tsiga swivels and pulls that to the fine leg region to rotate the strike.

Zakary Foulkes to Blessing Muzarabani, On middle and leg, on a good length, Blessing Muzarabani is deep in his crease. Drops his bat down on the ball and an outside edge is squirted wide of cover. Blessing is called through for a single by Tsiga.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, A bumper at chest height, on middle and leg, Tafadzwa Tsiga swivels and controls the pull down to deep fine leg for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nip-backer, near the off pole, on a length, goes past the gap between bat and wicket, as Tafadzwa Tsiga gets late on his defense.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Sprayed down leg, Tafadzwa Tsiga lets it go.

Matt Henry to Vincent Masekesa, ! CLEANED HIM UP! An absolute seed by Matt Henry! This angles into the right-hander, on a good length, Vincent Masekesa just hangs his bat out to cover the line whilst staying leg side of the ball. The ball straightens off the deck to go past the outside edge and uproot the off pole. Fourth wicket for Henry. Vincent falls for 1 (9). Zimbabwe are now 94/8.

Blessing Muzarabani is in at 10.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On the hips, back of good length, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets behind the line and tucks it away for a single in the deep square leg.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Fuller in length, on off, Tsiga eases the drive to mid off.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On the off stump, on a nagging length, Tafadzwa Tsiga gets on top of it and solidly keeps it out.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, A touch short, around off, the batter gets behind the ball and daps it down.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, In the channel on off, on a good length, Tsiga pokes but is lucky not to nick this one behind.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, At the stumps, on a good length, Vincent Masekesa gets right behind it.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, On a length, on the off stump, Vincet pats it down on the off side.

Zakary Foulkes to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Zakary goes into the surface, over middle, Tafadzwa Tsiga swivels and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, Fuller in length, on middle, Vincent tucks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, In the channel on off, on a back of a length, Vincent stays leg side of the ball and fiddles at the delivery. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, Banged in short, over middle, Vincent Masekesa tries to take the short ball on and swings for it. The ball sails over the bat.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, ! Lovely stroke! Fuller and on middle, Tafadzwa Tsiga presents the full face of the bat and works it to the right of the man at silly mid on for a boundary.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, 2 runs.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On a good length, on middle, Tsiga clips it wide of mid on to his right. Seeing Tsiga take a step forward, Vincent Masekesa sets off for the run before being sent back by his partner. A wayward throw at the bowling end allows Vincent to get back with a dive.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, No run.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, Fuller in length, around off, Tsiga knocks it to the left of the bowler and wide enough of the man at mid off. Two runs taken.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On a length, on off, Tsiga defends it off the front foot.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, On a shortish length, around off, Vincent sways away from the line of the ball.

A slight halt in play as Vincent Masekesa looks in a bit of discomfort after taking a blow right on the box. The physio is out to tend to him as he stretches a bit to relax himself up. Looks fine to continue after sipping in some water.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, No run.

Zakary Foulkes to Vincent Masekesa, Ouch, Vincent Masekesa has copped it on the box!

Vincent Masekesa is in at 9.

Zakary Foulkes to Trevor Gwandu, ! PLUMB IN FRONT! Two in the over for Zakary Foulkes and Zimbabwe are falling apart here. Slanting into the right-hander, on the fuller side, on off and middle, Trevor presses forward and ends up defending outside the line of the ball. Presents a straight bat but the ball sneaks past the inside edge to hit him on the back pad. The Kiwis go up in unison and the finger is raised.

Zakary Foulkes to Trevor Gwandu, Banged in short, over middle, Trevor Gwandu ducks under it.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, ! CAUGHT! New Zealand go bang, bang! Sikandar Raza falls into the trap! On a back of a length, angled into the pads from over the wicket, Raza hops and gets inside the line to glance it towards deep fine leg. Fails to keep the shot along the ground and plays it straight into the hands of leg gully where Rachin Ravindra pouches it at waist height.

Trevor Gwandu is in at 8.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, At the stumps, slightly fuller, Tafadzwa Tsiga pushes it to the man at silly mid on.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, On a length, on off, Tsiga knocks it to cover.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, This nips away off the deck, on a good length, Tsiga defends inside the line and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Tafadzwa Tsiga, No run.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, ! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal! A big blow for Zimbabwe as the promising-looking Taylor falls. This is on a back of a length, on off, Brendan Taylor gets on his toes to punch it away on the off side. The ball holds in the wicket and Brendan is through his shot early. Ends up hitting it a lot straighter and picks out Mitchell Santner at short mid off to absolute perfection. Henry has his third wicket. Taylor falls for 44 (107). Zimbabwe are now 83/5. 

Tafadzwa Tsiga is in at 7.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Into the wicket, at the right shoulder of the batter, Taylor sways away from the line of the ball.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, A bumper, around the left shoulder of the batter, Sikandar Raza ducks under it.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Fuller in length, on middle, knocked to mid on by Raza.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Back to bowling it short, over middle, Raza gets inside the line and drops his wrists.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Full and on middle, blocked out with a straight bat.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, On a short of a length, outside off, Raza shuffles across and gets on his toes to dab it down the deck.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Bangs it in short, does Zakary, around leg, Sikandar Raza gets inside the line and ducks.

Matt Henry to Sikandar Raza, This nips back in and hurries the batter up, on a nagging length. Sikandar drops his bat down on the ball and squirts an inside edge to deep fine leg for a single.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, At the pads, Taylor glances it down to deep fine leg for a single.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, On middle and leg, on a back of a length, Taylor looks to help it away but fails to lay any bat on it. The ball lobs off the thigh pad in front of backward square leg.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Honing in on the off stump and the length stays full, Taylor brings his bat out in front to keep it out.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Fuller and on off, patted down on the off side.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, A bit of nip back into the right-hander, on a short of a length, Taylor is deep in his crease and plays the initial line. Gets beaten on the inside edge due to the movement and gets rapped on the thigh pad.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Drags the length back, on middle, Brendan hangs back and drops it with soft hands beside the strip on the leg side for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, ! Rinse and repeat of the third ball of the over! Another full ball from Foulkes, Taylor does not try to overhit this one. Just times the drive to the left of mid on for four more.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Keeps it full, around off, Brendan presses forward to push it through mid off. Miscues it off the inner half to mid-wicket.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Low full toss, outside off, Taylor opens the bat face slightly and guides it to the left of cover-point. Henry Nicholls is quick to get the dive in and prevents the ball from going past him.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On middle, on a good length, turned to square leg by Taylor.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, ! Glorious! Pitched up, on middle, Brendan Taylor presents the full face of the bat and just eases the drive to the left of mid on for a boundary.

Matt Henry to Sikandar Raza, This cuts back in off the deck, that in-between length, on middle, Sikandar Raza plays outside the line and is beaten on the inside edge. Gets rapped high on the front pad.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Too full, too straight, on the pads, Taylor helps it down to deep fine leg. It is cut off by the sliding deep fine leg fielder to his right. They cross.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, In the channel on off, on a length, left alone by Brendan.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Just outside the off pole, on a good length, stabbed down on the off side.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Sliding down leg, on a length, Taylor misses out on the tickle.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, On the off stump, on a good length, Taylor covers the line and defends.

Who bowls next?

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Sprayed down leg, on a short of a length, left alone by SR.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, At the stumps, on a good length, Sikandar Raza walks across and brings his bat out in front of the front pad to block.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, This is dug in short, over middle and leg, Sikandar Raza ducks under it.

Welcome back for the post-Lunch session. The Kiwis spread out to the field and take their respective fielding positions. Brendan Taylor is joined by Sikandar Raza to the crease. Zakary Foulkes to continue and resume his over. Here we go...

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, ! Edged away! On a good length, just outside the off stump, Sikandar hops and tries to get behind the line. Raza gets squared up as the ball moves away to catch the outside edge. It goes down and through the gap between second slip and gully for a boundary.

Zakary Foulkes to Sikandar Raza, Starts with a short ball from over the wicket, over middle, Raza gets inside the line and lets the ball go through.

... DAY 1, SECOND SESSION ...

The blueprint of New Zealand’s pace attack was quite simple. Pitch it persistently in and around off, and trust the ball to do the talking. Zakary Foulkes, on debut, followed the same script and was rewarded with the prized wicket of Sean Williams, deepening Zimbabwe’s troubles. At 43 for 3, the top order had already taken a significant hit. Hence, they couldn't keep the scorecard ticking along. And just as the partnership between skipper Ervine and Taylor was blossoming, Zakary Foulkes nick

There hasn't been much steep bounce on offer, but the surface provided enough lateral movement to keep the batters honest. The occasional ball kicked awkwardly off a length, adding to the uncertainty. In the midst of it all, Brendon Taylor brought calm. He let the ball come to him, played with soft hands, and avoided anything extravagant. Welch supported him with a brief but valuable stand, before Henry removed him just before the drinks break.

It was a probing start for Zimbabwe’s batters, with New Zealand’s pacers operating like seasoned interrogators. Matt Henry struck in the third over, drawing Brian Bennett into a false stroke with a delivery that shaped away just enough. He nearly had two in two, but Will Young couldn’t hold on to a sharp chance at second slip of Nick Welch. Jacob Duffy complemented Henry well, maintaining a tight channel and letting the pitch do the rest.

SESSION SUMMARY - 28.1 Overs, 67 Runs, 4 Wickets. A very disappointing morning session for Zimbabwe as they have lost four big wickets. Zimbabwe’s batters managed to get a few starts, but none could carry on against New Zealand’s disciplined and controlled pace attack. The bowlers kept things simple, yet highly effective, and the dismissal of Craig Ervine right on the stroke of lunch added further pressure on the hosts.

Zakary Foulkes to Craig Ervine, ! CAUGHT! Craig Ervine falls right on the stroke of Lunch! The move to call upon Zakary Foulkes for the last over before the break has worked like a charm for Mitchell Santner and New Zealand. From around the wicket, Foulkes serves it on a length, around the sixth stump line, Ervine is better off leaving the ball alone but ends up pushing at the ball with hard hands. Looks to go down the ground but there is just enough movement off the deck to catch th

Into the final over before Lunch, then. Change of Zakary Foulkes (7-3-11-1). He replaces Matt Fisher.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, This is darted onto the off stump, on a length, Brendan Taylor defends it off the front foot.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, Slower and wider on off, Taylor lunges and taps it to cover.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, ! Smashed! Floated up, fractionally wide on off, Taylor transfers his weight onto the front foot and drills it to the left of short cover for a boundary.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, Full and on the off stump, Brendan plants his front foot across and blocks it out.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, Looped up, full and around off, driven to cover.

With just a couple of minutes remaining until Lunch, this might well be the final over of the session. A change in bowling as skipper Mitchell Santner replaces Zakary Foulkes.

Mitchell Santner to Brendan Taylor, No run.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Delivers it on a short of a length, on middle, nudged off the back foot to mid-wicket.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, On the off stump, on a good length, Craig Ervine meets the ball right under his eyes and blocks it out.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, A short ball by Fisher, slanting down leg, Craig Ervine ducks under it.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Fuller in length, on the off stump, Ervine drives it to cover.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, So close! On a good length, angled in from around the wicket, on the line of the off stump, Craig Ervine waits back to defend. The ball straightens off the deck to whistle past the outside edge.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, 1 run.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On off, on a short of a length, Brendan Taylor hops to keep it out. Gets an inside edge that trickles past the stumps and rolls behind on the leg side for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Banged in short, around the left shoulder, Taylor gets inside the line and thinks about taking the short ball on intially before dropping his wrists to let the ball go.

Zakary Foulkes to Craig Ervine, That in-between length, on middle and leg, Ervine helps it around towards backward square leg for one.

Zakary Foulkes to Craig Ervine, Brings the line closer to the off stump and makes the batter play, on a length, Ervine is late to get on the front foot and hangs his bat out to play the line. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

Zakary Foulkes to Craig Ervine, Bowled from wide on the crease from the around-the-wicket angle, full and outside off, Ervine thought about going for the drive before deciding to leave the ball alone.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Strays onto the pads, on a good length, tickled down to deep fine leg for a single.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, On a good length, on middle, Craig Ervine goes deep in the crease to keep it out.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Very full, honing in at the stumps, Craig Ervine drives it down the ground. Gets it off the toe end of the bat, but manages to beat mid on to his right and collects a couple of runs.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Fisher goes short, over off, Ervine ducks.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, This is bowled into the deck, over off, Craig Ervine stabs it down on the off side.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Slightly wider on off, on a good length, Ervine plays inside the line and is beaten on the outside edge.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, On a good length, angled in and then it nips away. Craig Ervine looks to cover the line with a straight bat but is beaten as the ball leaves him.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Into the wicket, over middle, Taylor ducks.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Play and a miss! This goes away off the deck, on a good length, Taylor goes fishing at the delivery away from his body but is lucky not to nick this one behind.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, This jags back in, on a nagging length, on middle, Brendan Taylor hops to deal with it but the ball cuts back into him and kicks up a bit to catch him on the thigh pad.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On a short of a length, on off, punched to mid off.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, A lot fuller, on off, Taylor sets up to drive it through mid off but miscues it off the inner half to mid on.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, No run.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, Fuller and outside off, Taylor gets forward slightly and eases it wide of cover for a single.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, Fisher goes into the surface, outside off, Brendan stays leg side of the ball and gets on top of it. Knocks it through covers for a couple of runs.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Leg bye! At the hips, Craig misses out on the tickle. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads towards deep fine leg.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, ! Slightly uppish but in the gap! Fractionally wide on off, on the shorter side, Ervine stands tall and punches it in the gap between backward point and gully for a boundary.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, On a hard length, outside off, Ervine gets on his toes to punch it away. Toe-ends it to cover.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, A short ball from Fisher, Craig Ervine ducks under it.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, In the channel on off, Brendan Taylor lets it be.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On a good length, on middle, Taylor gets behind it but the ball cuts back to catch an inside edge. It is squeezed to square leg.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Banged in short, over the off stump, Brendan Taylor bends, drops his wrists and lets the ball go through.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Outside off, on a good length, left alone by BT.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, ! Gets it through! On a shortish length, outside off, Taylor rises with the bounce and plays it late. Glides it to the left of backward point. Rachin Ravindra gives it a long chase and puts in a slide at the end but in vain.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On off, blocked out by Brendan.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Even fuller, on off, Craig knocks it back to Matthew.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Attacking the stumps, on a length, flicked to mid-wicket where Matt Henry moves to his left and cuts it off.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Goes fuller this time, outside off, Ervine shoulders arms.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, An effort ball from Fisher as this is dug in short, over off, Craig Ervine rides the bounce and keeps it out.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, This is a bit too wide to make the batter play, on a good length, Craig lets it pass.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, No run.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, A bumper from Zakary, around off, Brendan arches back to get under the ball and ramp it over the keeper but misses.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Foulkes keeps it outside off, Taylor lets it through.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, That tempting length for the drive, full and outside off, Brendan Taylor offers no shot.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Pitched up, outside off, Taylor leaves the ball alone.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Wide! Zakary goes short on middle, but this sails over the batter's head. BT sways away from the line of the ball.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Fuller in length, around off, Taylor blocks it out with his bat close to the front pad.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Hurls it on a good length, on the off stump, Brendan Taylor covers the off stump and defends.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, Outside the off stump, on a good length, Ervine holds his bat high to make the leave.

Matthew Fisher to Craig Ervine, On a nagging length, outside off, Craig Ervine lets it be.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, Full and at the stumps, Brendan clips it between mid-wicket and mid on. Matt Henry at mid on cuts it off with a dive to his right.  They cross.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, Fuller in length, on the off stump, Taylor leans ahead to defend. Gets it off the outer half to gully.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, No run.

Another debutant for New Zealand, Matthew Fisher, is introduced into the attack. He replaces Matt Henry.

Matthew Fisher to Brendan Taylor, No run.

Zakary Foulkes to Craig Ervine, On a length, outside off, Craig Ervine plays inside the line and is beaten on the outside edge.

Zimbabwean skipper, Craig Ervine, is in at 5.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, ! EDGED AND GONE! This was coming! Third time's the charm for Zakary Foulkes! Will Young makes no mistake this time and Foulkes has his first Test wicket.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, And again! Closer to the off stump,on a length, Sean Williams presents a straight bat and instead of allowing the ball to come to him, he pushes in front of his body. The ball goes away to beat Sean on the outside edge.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, Lovely bowling! Fuller in length, on off, Sean's feet go nowhere and he just pushes at the delivery in front of his body with his hands. The ball nips away to leave him.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, Around the off stump, on a good length, stabbed down on the off side.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, Moving away off the deck, on a good length, Sean Williams shoulders arms.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Well outside off, left alone by BT.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, On the off stump and full in length, Brendan Taylor blocks it out.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Beaten! In the corridor of off and on a good length, Taylor hops to get closer to the line of the ball and fishes at the delivery before withdrawing his bat.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, On the fuller side, on middle and leg, Brendan clips it to the left of mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Matt Henry to Sean Williams, Almost dragged it back onto the stumps! This cuts back into the left-hander, on a good length, Sean goes searching for the line with his hands. Gets an inside edge that sneaks past the leg stump and rolls down to deep fine leg for one.

Matt Henry to Sean Williams, ! Gap picked with surgical precision! This is banged in short from around the wicket, on middle, Sean gets on his toes and lifts his front leg. Rolls his wrists over the ball and helps the pull right between deep square leg and deep fine leg for a boundary.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, That in-between length, outside off, steered to gully by Taylor.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, Angled into the pads from wide of the crease, Sean turns it to the left of square leg for a single.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, Short of a length, outside off, Sean Williams pushes away from his body and gets it to the left of backward point for a brace.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, In the channel on off, on a good length, left alone by Williams.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, No run.

Zakary Foulkes to Sean Williams, A peach of a delivery from Zakary Foulkes! Goes wide on the crease on the around-the-wicket angle and slants it into the left-hander, around the line of the off stump, Sean gets his bat out in front to cover the line but the ball straightens to go past the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, The length is pulled back, on off, Taylor punches it to cover off the back foot.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, On a good length, on off, Brendan sets up to defend and an outside edge is squirted down towards gully.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Taken at short leg and New Zealand go up in unison! Alex Wharf shakes his head. This nips back, on a good length, on middle and leg, Taylor brings his bat out in front for the block but the ball misses the inside edge by a long way and lobs off the front pad to Rachin Ravindra at short leg.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Fuller in length, on off, Taylor's feet are rooted to the crease and he tentatively pushes it to mid off.

Matt Henry to Sean Williams, Henry bends his back and bangs it into the surface, over middle, Sean Williams arches back and rides the bounce to angle it down. Guides it past gully and Will Young goes after it. Young puts in a dive and flicks the ball away from the fence towards the fielder backing up. Sean is off the mark with three runs.

DRINKS BREAK!  A testing first hour for Zimbabwe, pretty much on expected lines. They lost Brian Bennett early and if not for the dropped catch on the first ball he faced, Nick Welch would have been back in the hut much earlier. On his return, Brendan Taylor has looked solid. For New Zealand, Matt Henry has picked up right where he left off in the first Test, probing relentlessly and asking all the tough questions of the Zimbabwean batters. There hasn’t quite been the occasional steep boun

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, ! LBW! A ripper of a delivery from Matt Henry and he gets his second wicket of the morning! 

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Around off, on a good length, Taylor punches it off the back foot to cover.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, A bit of a wayward start for Zakary Foulkes! Slides it down leg, Taylor does not poke at the harmless delivery. 

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, On a hard length, around off, Brendan Taylor plays close to the body on the back foot and taps it in thereabouts of the point region.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Down the leg stump line, again, on a length. Brendan Taylor leaves it again.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Slides it down leg, on a length, Taylor gets inside the line to leave.

Zakary Foulkes to Brendan Taylor, Starts from over the stumps. Shortish, cutting in from off, Taylor stands tall and turns it to square leg.

Time for the first bowling change of the morning. Zakary Foulkes comes into the attack on his Test debut.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Full and angling on middle and leg. Brendan Taylor flicks it to the right of short leg. Rachin Ravindra gets it parried behind off his hands and the batters cross for a single.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Length, on middle, Brendan tucks it to short leg.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, BEATEN! Cuts away from the batter, on a length around off. Taylor gets a feel for it and goes to poke, but is beaten on the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Nips into the batter, full and on off, Welch gets on the front foot to push to the off side, but gets an inside edge. The ball passes close to the stumps and runs toward deep fine leg fence. It is intercepted by the man who slides to his right from deep backward square leg. A single taken.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Fuller than a length, on off, Welch pushes it to mid off.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Hits the length on off, Nick Welch taps it to the point region and looks to steal a single, but is sent back by Taylor on a sharp call.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Fractionally full, outside off, Brendan Taylor opts to leave.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, On a back of a length, at off, Brendan Taylor gets on the back foot and knocks it to mid on.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Bashes the length hard, on top of off. Brendan Taylor lets the ball arrive and dabs it with soft hands to the point region.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Nagging length, swinging away a bit, outside off. Taylor offers no shot.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, ! Excellent shot! Short and outside off. Brendan Taylor sees the width, weighs on the back foot and cuts it over the cover-point region for a boundary.  The partnership grows to 27.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Full and straight, on off, Taylor defends it watchfully.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Back of a length, outside off, Nick Welch tries to leave, but is a bit late to get his bat away from the line and the ball is dabbed to the slip cordon.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Around off, and short. Welch lets it through as it curves away late.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, WIDE! Dug into the pitch, but sliding down leg, Nick Welch leaves and a Wide is called for height.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Stays low on the bounce, on a length, around middle. Brendan Taylor tucks it through backward square leg for a single.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Down leg, on a length, Taylor leaves.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, A real beauty from Henry! Length ball, veering into the batter off the deck. Brendan Taylor covers the off stump, gets on the front foot and decides to leave.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Short and on middle, Brendan Taylor hops off and tucks it on the bounce to short leg.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Keeps the line outside off, on a short length. Nick Welch lets it pass behind to the keeper.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Swinging away from outside off, on a good length. Nick Welch leaves. Not much of a bounce on this one as the keeper has to bend low to collect it.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Shortish delivery, but fairly outside off. Nick Welch ignores and lets it be.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Outside off, length, left alone.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, On a good length, angled onto the pads, Nick Welch steers it to the square leg region.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Quick tap and run! Fuller delivery, around off, Brendan Taylor leans and eases the ball to the point region for a quick single.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, ! Powered away! Henry pitches it fuller than a length, on off, Nick Welch gets on the front foot and smashes it a bit uppishly, but to the right of the leaping cover fielder for a boundary.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, BEAUTY! In the channel of off, on a length. Nick Welch is forced to play at it and looks to block, but the ball straightens off the deck and beats the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, On a length, at off, Nick Welch meets the ball under his eyes and blocks.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Swinging away from the batter, on a length, outside off. Nick Welch is squared up and just manages to drag the bat inside the line to make the leave.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, On a back of a length, on middle and leg. Nick Welch hops on the crease and nudges it to the mid-wicket region.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, ! Timed and placed really well! Overpitched delivery on middle. Nick Welch weighs on the front foot and flicks it through the vacant mid on region for a boundary.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Close leave! Around the fifth stump line, on a fullish length, Brendan Taylor trusts the ball to go straight on and leaves.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Good length, and outside off, left alone.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, A huge appeal for LBW, but not given! That looked really close in real-time! Slants into the batter, does Duffy, on a hard length. Brendan Taylor plays all over it on the front foot and is beaten on the inside edge, before being rapped on the front knee roll.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Full and outside off, swinging away late. Nick Welch gets on the front foot and pushes it between backward point and gully. Devon Conway from gully chases it to his right and the batters cross for a single.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, On a good length, around off, Nick Welch hangs back in the crease to block it off.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Gets it to jag back into the batter, on a length, around off. Nick Welch leaves it alone.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Bangs it short and outside off, Brendan Taylor is beaten on the outside edge as he looks to play at it.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Fuller and shaping away from middle. Brendan Taylor pushes it firmly to the mid on region. Matthew Fisher from short mid-wicket dives to his left and fumbles to stop. The ball is parried through mid on and Fisher chases it down before the ropes. Two taken.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Henry goes fuller now, outside off, Brendan Taylor strides forward and taps it to backward point.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Slams the deck hard, does Matt, on off and short, and nipping away a shy bit. Brendan Taylor drops his wrists down in time to leave.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Outswinger on a shorter length, outside off, Brendan Taylor leans back to let it be.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Pitched fuller and on middle, solidly blocked by Taylor.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Short of a length, on off, punched to the cover-point region.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Back of a length, jagging in from off. Nick Welch offers no shot and wears on the thigh pad. The ball then lobs behind, and goes through the slip cordon to the deep third region.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, On off and full, Nick Welch strides forward and drives it straight to the cover fielder.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, Pulls the length back, outside off, Nick Welch keeps his bat inside the line as it shapes away back to the keeper.

Jacob Duffy to Nick Welch, On the stumps and full, Nick leans forward and watchfully blocks it straight.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Full and on middle, Brendan Taylor pushes it to the left of mid on. The fielder there tries to stop by diving, but fumbles and the ball is parried behind. A single taken.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, A stifled appeal for LBW, but the finger stays down again. The impact looked outside the line there. Good length, nipping into the batter around off. Brendan Taylor is beaten on the inside edge and the ball lobs off the thigh pad, and rolls wide of gully for a leg bye.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, Back of a length, on the leg stump. Brendan Taylor nudges it to wide square leg for a couple of runs.

Matt Henry to Brendan Taylor, A huge appeal for LBW, but the umpire, Alex Wharf, says no! Remember, there's no DRS in this series. Sharply jags back off the length, on middle and leg. Brendan Taylor shapes to work that across to the leg side, but plays over the wrong line and wears on the flap of the front pad. Probably height has saved Brendan here.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Welch is off the mark! On middle, on a good length. Nick Welch gets on the front foot and works it to the mid-wicket region for a single.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Outside off, on a length, Welch offers no shot.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, Length-delivery, on off, Welch defends it out.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Hits the deck hard, on off, Taylor gets behind the line to block it off the back foot.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, ! First runs off the bat for Zimbabwe and Brendan Taylor, but in a streaky fashion. 

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Keeps the stumps in play, does Duffy, on a length, Brendan Taylor covers the line and flicks it to short mid-wicket.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Banged halfway, short and outside off, Brendan Taylor rides the bounce and taps it with soft hands to point.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, In front of the stumps, on a length, Brendan Taylor takes a good stride forward and blocks it solidly.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, On a hard length, around off, blocked out to short cover.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, BEATEN! Short of a good length outside off, swings away. Welch prods forward to defend, but gets beaten on the outside edge as the ball shapes away late.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, No run.

Matt Henry to Nick Welch, EDGED AND ! It would have been an action-replay had Will Young managed to cling to the catch! This again leaves the batter off the pitch, on a slightly fuller length. Nick Welch plays at it and gets an outside edge. The ball dips low to the left of Will Young at second slip. Will gets low, even gets his hands on the ball, but fails to cleanly catch it. 

Nick Welch walks in at number 3.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, ! c Will Young b Matt Henry.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, Action-replay! On a short of a length, around the fourth, shaping away off the pitch. Brian Bennett looks to block but the ball beats the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, Well bowled! Pitches on off, on a shortish length, and then gets it to deviate away from the batter. Brian Bennett plays inside the line to block and is beaten on the outside edge.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, The length is pulled back by a yard, but the line is the same, outside off. Brendan Taylor watches if closely before leaving.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, On a fullish length, outside off, nipping away. Taylor does the same. Leaves it alone for the keeper to collect.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Keeps it outside off, on a good length, Taylor shoulders arms as it cuts away late.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Shapes away after pitching, outside off, on a length, Taylor lets it be.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, Similar length, on off, Taylor lets the ball come at him and defends it.

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, No ball!

Jacob Duffy to Brendan Taylor, No run.

One of three debutants for New Zealand in this game, Jacob Duffy will operate from the other end.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, Angling into the batter, on a hard length. This beats the inside edge and hits Brian on the back thigh. A maiden to start with for Matt Henry!

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, No run.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, No run.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, And again! Pitched on a good length, around off, just straightens enough to beat the outside edge.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, BEAUTY! Nip-backer on a good length, around off. Bennett pushes at the delivery and the ball sneaks through the gap between bat and pad on the way to the keeper.

We are all set to get going in Bulawayo. Making a much-anticipated return to the international fold after three and a half years, Brendan Taylor walks out to open the innings alongside Brian Bennett. It is a symbolic second innings in Taylor’s international career, and adding to the emotion of the moment, his parents are in attendance to witness this special occasion.

Matt Henry to Brian Bennett, No run.

PITCH REPORT - Ed Rainsford is near the deck. He shares that it's a beautiful day in Bulawayo, with the country slowly creeping into the summer months. Scott Styris joins him and informs that the surface for this Test is different from the previous one. Adds that it is a little drier and without much visible moisture. Scott believes it looks like a good wicket to bat on. Mentions that if the bounce remains consistent, there will be runs to be had.

New Zealand head coach, Rob Walter, says the guys adapted well to the conditions and that they kept getting better and better. Stresses that it was good to see how their bowlers responded to the conditions. Highlights that they have come off a good T20 diet and were a bit on the aggressive side as well. Says they gave the guys an off for a couple of days for conditioning and had two really good training days as well. On the team combinations, he adds it's an exciting time for New Zealand cricket

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Devon Conway, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Mitchell Santner (C), Zakary Foulkes (On debut) (In for Michael Bracewell), Matt Henry, Matthew Fisher (On debut) (In for Nathan Smith), Jacob Duffy (On debut) (In for Will O’Rourke).

The captain of Zimbabwe, Craig Ervine, says the wicket looks a lot better with less grass. He expects it to play well this time around as compared to the last Test. On the learnings from the previous game, he says they will try to make improvements in all departments. Reflects that the guys have worked on specifics and are hopeful that they will be able to execute in the match. Informs two changes. Ben Curran makes way for Brendan Taylor and Newman Nyamhuri is out and Trevor Gwandu comes i

The skipper of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner says that he would have bowled first as well. Feels that this is a better wicket compared to the last game. Mentions that there is less grass on the pitch but hopes there is still something in it early on for the pacers. Santner shares that it’s been good to enjoy a bit of downtime, but now it’s back to action mode after a couple of days of training. Informs that they have three debutants in Jacob Duffy, Zakary Foulkes and Matthew Fisher.

Zimbabwe (Playing XI) - Brian Bennett, Brendan Taylor, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine(C), Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga(WK), Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga, Trevor Gwandu.