New Zealand posted their biggest winning Test margin when they demolished Zimbabwe by an innings and 301 runs on the third day of their one-off Test at Napier's McLean Park Saturday. After starting the day at 392-5, New Zealand added 103 in 18 overs, giving BJ Watling time to notch his maiden Test century before declaring at 495-7.
Man-of-the-match Chris Martin then lead a bowling attack that routed Zimbabwe twice in the same day - first for the tourists' lowest Test innings of 51 followed by 143 in their second innings. The winning margin was seven runs better than New Zealand's previous record of an innings and 294 runs set in 2005 and also against Zimbabwe.
"I can't recall a Test match like that for New Zealand," said Martin, a 65-Test veteran. "Bangladesh, maybe, we bowled out twice in a day, but it happens very rarely so it's something to savour." Martin took two for five off six overs in Zimbabwe's first innings followed with six for 26 off 8.3 to draw level with Chris Cairns as New Zealand's third most successful bowlers with a career haul of 218.
Zimbabwe never recovered from losing their top order batsmen cheaply in both innings, Martin said, adding he was surprised at the lack of fight from their batsmen. "As well as we bowled, you would expect a Test-match side to at least, probably, have one bad innings and then come out and put together more of a competitive showing in the second innings.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.