New Zealand off to strong start after Henry’s six-wicket haul thwarts Zimbabwe

Fast bowler Matt Henry grabbed 6-39 as Zimbabwe got bowled out for 149 on Wednesday in its first tTest match against New Zealand in almost nine years.

Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine, who won the toss, wanted his top-order batters to put runs on the board but instead the home team got dismissed inside 2 ½ sessions on the opening day for their second-lowest innings total this year.

New Zealand was at 92-0 when stumps were drawn on the opening day, with Devon Conway unbeaten on 51 after completing his 12th test half century and Will Young also looking solid at 41 not out.

The return of Brian Bennett, Ben Curran and Sikandar Raza in the longer format of the game didn’t help against the incisive bowling of Henry as he consistently challenged the batters with his intriguing line and lengths.

New Zealand’s sharp fielding saw them lifting the tri-series trophy last week in Harare when Henry bowled a terrific last over and gave away only three runs with South Africa in sight of victory.

But on Wednesday New Zealand missed two catching opportunities when top scorer Ervine (39) and Tafadzwa Tsiga (30) both got dropped early in their innings.

Despite getting second chances, both batters struggled during the 54-run partnership against the immaculate Henry and Nathan Smith (3-20), with third seamer Will O’Rourke also going for just two runs an over in his 13 overs.

Mitchell Santner, captaining the Black Caps for the first time in the absence of injured Tom Latham, hoped his three fast bowlers would get the most out of a soft pitch after he lost the toss and was asked to field first. And Henry didn’t disappoint.

Henry got the outside edges of Bennett (6) and Curran (13) during his impressive opening spell of seven overs. He then found the outside edge of Nick Welch (27) at the stroke of lunch to leave Zimbabwe in trouble at 67-4.

Smith had reduced Zimbabwe to 31-3 when in-form Sean Williams (2) chopped a short ball back onto his stumps before Ervine and Welch found some boundaries against spinners Santer and Michael Bracewell.

Raza lasted for only two runs in his return to the longer format as he fell soon after lunch when he tried to fend Henry’s sharp short ball and lobbed an easy catch to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.

Ervine got a life when Conway couldn’t hold on to a sharp catch at point which could have given O’Rourke his first wicket and Smith missed a sharp low return catch of Tsiga when the batter was on 18.

The pressure of sharp New Zealand bowling finally took its toll when Smith trapped both batters leg before wicket in his successive overs. However, Smith was lucky to win an lbw decision against Ervine as the TV replays showed the ball could have missed the leg stump.

Henry then polished off the tail quickly as Santner pounced on a diving catch and held on to a leading edge of Blessing Muzarabbani.

New Zealand has won 11 of its 17 test matches against Zimbabwe and drawn six.

This is the first match between the two teams since 2016 in cricket’s traditional format. Zimbabwe has a poor home test record with its last win coming against Pakistan in 2013.

New Zealand, playing its first test of the year, is without several regulars with Latham still recovering from a shoulder injury and Glenn Phillips ruled out of the two-match series because of a groin strain sustained during the Major League Cricket competition in the US.

Kane Williamson was unavailable for the series, and fast bowler Kyle Jamieson took time out to be at home for the birth of his first child.

Agencies