Kiwis build lead ahead of declaration

Zimbabwe 58-3 at stumps against New Zealand; need 329 off final day to win

BULAWAYO: An unbroken stand of 92 between Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor moved New Zealand towards a declaration as they continued their bid to win the second Test against Zimbabwe yesterday.

Having wrapped up the Zimbabwean innings for 362 on the fourth morning, New Zealand spent the afternoon session extending their 220-run lead from the first innings as they moved to 118-2 at tea.

Although their efforts to move the game along were stymied by the loss of openers Tom Latham and Martin Guptill after lunch, Williamson and Taylor increased the scoring rate as the session wore on.

Williamson’s 53 not out gave him another record, as he became just the fourth player to score fifty or more in his first three Test innings as captain.

Meanwhile, Taylor continued his remarkable series with the bat, making 36 not out to take his series tally to 333 runs without being dismissed.

Earlier leg-spinner Ish Sodhi grabbed two of the final four wickets to record figures of 4-60, as Zimbabwe’s innings was brought to an end in the final half-hour before lunch.

Despite New Zealand’s healthy first-innings lead, Williamson elected not to enforce the follow-on.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2016.

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