Sports

New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by innings and 117 runs

Second and final Test will get under way at same venue on Saturday

Afp July 31, 2016

New Zealand bowler Trent Boult (C) celebrates a wicket with his teammates during the fourth day of the first test match in a series of two tests between New Zealand and hosts Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, in Bulawayo July 31 2016. PHOTO: AFP

BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE: New Zealand wrapped up an innings victory against Zimbabwe in the first Test in Bulawayo on Sunday despite a maiden Test century from Sean Williams finally giving the hosts something to smile about.

New Zealand bowled Zimbabwe out for 295 to win the game by an innings and 117 runs, with left-arm seamer Neil Wagner finishing with eight wickets in the match at Queens Sports Club.

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The second and final Test gets under way at the same venue on Saturday.

After three days of brutal domination at the hands of the tourists, Williams rose from his sick bed to hit the fastest Test century by a Zimbabwean as he reached three figures in just 106 deliveries.

The left-hander had spent the past two days off the field due to illness as New Zealand racked up a first-innings lead of 412, and came to the crease early on the fourth morning with Zimbabwe tottering on 124 for six, still needing 288 runs to make the Black Caps bat again.

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Williams added 118 for the seventh wicket with captain Graeme Cremer, who made 33, and went on to make 119 before succumbing to the left-arm spin of Mitchell Santner.