Day of toil and moil for Zimbabwe


Latham followed up his 105 in New Zealand’s only innings of the first Test with a commanding 136 in the first innings of the second. PHOTO: AFP

Latham followed up his 105 in New Zealand’s only innings of the first Test with a commanding 136 in the first innings of the second. PHOTO: AFP

BULAWAYO: Opening batsman Tom Latham scored his second consecutive hundred against Zimbabwe in the second Test in Bulawayo yesterday but was dismissed on the final ball of a day one that saw New Zealand batsmen completely dominate the African bowling to finish on 329-2.

The left-hander scored 105 in the first Test, which New Zealand won by an innings and 117 runs, and continued that good form here as he scored 136 off 269 balls, hitting 11 boundaries along the way.

With Zimbabwe’s pace-shy seamers failing to threaten on a placid pitch, Latham put on an opening partnership of 169 with Martin Guptill, who made 87.

New Zealand take charge against Zimbabwe

The hosts finally made a breakthrough in the hour before tea, when Donald Tiripano snuck a delivery through Guptill’s defences to trap him lbw.

Latham was joined by skipper Kane Williamson and the two put on 160 before the left-hander’s dismissal. Williamson was unbeaten on 95 at stumps and has a nervous night ahead of him as he closes in on a 14th Test hundred, having been dismissed in the first Test on 91.

The only other drama on the opening day saw Zimbabwe’s fans stage a peaceful protest against President Robert Mugabe’s government when they rose as one at the end of the 36th over to sing the national anthem.

Zimbabweans against government and cricket match against New Zealand

The action was an initiative of the #ThisFlag citizen movement that has brought stayaways and public demonstrations across the country over the past six weeks.

Their call to action brought the biggest crowd that Queens had seen during the series.

The Zimbabweans made three changes to their side for the second Test, with wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Moor making his Test debut and opening batsman Tino Mawoyo and off-spinner John Nyumbu also brought in.

Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari and the injured Hamilton Masakadza were the players to make way.

New Zealand announced an unchanged side from the one that won the first Test so easily, as Williamson and Tim Southee earned their 50th Test caps.


Original news : http://tribune.com.pk/story/1157121/day-toil-moil-zimbabwe/