A late strike from fast bowler Doug Bracewell put New Zealand in an excellent position Friday as they push for victory in their one-off Test against Zimbabwe. Bracewell removed Hamilton Masakadza in the final over of day four to leave Zimbabwe struggling on 61 for two in their pursuit of 366 for victory at Queens Sports Club.
Masakadza's loose cut was brilliantly caught by Dean Brownlie in the gully, leaving New Zealand requiring eight wickets on the final day to secure the match after they had declared their second innings on 252 for eight. Kyle Jarvis became the first Zimbabwe bowler to take a five-wicket haul since their return to Test cricket in August, but it wasn't enough to prevent New Zealand achieving their goal of declaring midway through the final session.
Nineteen years after his father Malcolm took part in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test match, Jarvis recorded figures of 5 for 64, but it couldn't stop the Black Caps from gaining a lead of 365. Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor led the New Zealand charge with the bat, overcoming the early loss of night-watchman Jeetan Patel to add 119 for the fourth wicket.
Taylor then fell for 76 for the second time in the match when he was also out lbw to Jarvis, who followed up by bowling Dean Brownlie to wrap up his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Zimbabwe will enter the final day needing a further 305 runs for victory, leaving them with a tricky decision of whether they should go for victory or simply try and bat out a draw.
Scoreboard New Zealand first innings: 426 all out (M. Guptill 109, R. Taylor 76, D. Brownlie 63, K. Williamson 49, C. Mpofu 9-92, R. Price 2-118). Zimbabwe first innings: 313 all out (V. Sibanda 93, M. Waller 72 no, B. Taylor 50, D. Vettori 5-70, C. Martin 2-74).
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New Zealand second innings
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B. McCullum lbw Price 11
M. Guptill b Jarvis 0
K. Williamson lbw Jarvis 68
J. Patel b Jarvis 9
R. Taylor lbw Jarvis 76
BJ Watling c Taylor b Price 3
D. Vettori c Ncube b Mpofu 31
D. Brownlie b Jarvis 9
R. Young not out 35
D. Bracewell not out 1
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Extras: (3lb, 3nb 3b) 9
Total: (8 wkts, 71 overs, 313 mins) 252
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Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-23, 3-36, 4-155, 5-167, 6-179, 7-199, 8-236.
Bowling: Jarvis 18-1-64-5; Ncube 10-0-41-0; Price 29-5-87-2; Mpofu 14-1-54-1.
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Zimbabwe second innings
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T. Mawoyo not out 27
V. Sibanda lbw Bracewell 13
H. Masakadza c Brownlie b Bracewell 19
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Extras: (1lb, 1nb) 2
Total: (2 wkts, 23.4 overs, 58 mins) 61
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