Black Caps enjoy record test victory

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MAIDEN TON: BJ Watling

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New Zealand completed a remarkable day with a record test victory over Zimbabwe, by an innings and 301 runs at Napier's McLean Park today.

The shellshocked tourists had no answer to a relentless, accurate New Zealand pace attack, perishing for 51 and 143 as the first test ended at 6.15pm on the third day.

Having posted 495-7 declared in their first innings, with BJ Watling scoring 102 not out, New Zealand topped their previous record victory of an innings and 294 runs against the same opponents in Harare in 2005.

Chris Martin was the star for the hosts, taking 6-26 in the second innings to take 8-31 for the match and draw level with Chris Cairns on 218 test wickets in third place on the New Zealand all-time list. Only Regis Chakabva, who scored 63 in just his second test, delayed the inevitable for the tourists.

Twenty-two wickets fell on the third day, equalling the record for most wickets to fall in a day in a New Zealand test, against India in Hamilton in 2003.

There was little hint of the carnage to follow when Watling scrambled home for a second run to notch his maiden test century, 102 off 149 balls, and stand-in captain Brendon McCullum declared just over an hour before lunch.

The pitch appeared a good one for batting, with little seam movement, but Martin led a disciplined attack and sparked both top-order collapses with his inswing.

Zimbabwe's first innings lasted just 28.5 overs, and was the lowest innings total posted against New Zealand, beating the 59 scored by Zimbabwe in Harare in 2005.

All four New Zealand pacemen took two wickets, with Malcolm Waller the only batsman to reach double figures, with 23.

Then, second time around, Martin took the first three wickets to fall as Zimbabwe slumped to 5-3.

He removed Tino Mawoyo, Hamilton Masakadza and captain Brendan Taylor all to catches behind the wicket.

The big wicket of Taylor, for two, also provided Watling his first catch as a test wicketkeeper on a memorable day.

The series continues with the first of three ODIs in Dunedin on Friday.

- © Fairfax NZ News