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Bulawayo: Martin Guptill's second century and his 132-run partnership for the third wicket with captain Ross Taylor helped New Zealand end the first day at 275 for 3 in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo today.
Taylor won the toss and elected to bat on a flat pitch that had nothing to offer the bowlers, and Brendon McCullum would be the first to admit he threw away a golden opportunity to play a big knock. McCullum had hit two well-timed boundaries before he played on to a length delivery from Kyle Jarvis with New Zealand losing their first wicket with the score on 40.
But, Guptill and Kane Williamson weren't going to make the same mistake and the pair added 75 runs for the second wicket with the latter being the more aggressive of the duo. On a pitch that would make any bowler want to be a batsman, Zimbabwe's attack tried their best but even better bowlers would have found life on the flat Queens Sports Club wicket.
Williamson was looking at ease in the middle and had hit six boundaries in his 49 before he was run out in a freak manner when the bowler Ray Price threw the ball back at the batsman's end and even as he tried to get back in the crease, wicket-keeper Regis Chakabva broke the stumps with the batsman's foot on the line.
Guptill was happy knocking the ball around, but got to the three-figure mark with a six and four off Price; and looked set to convert this into a huge hundred before he was caught at midwicket by Tatenda Taibu off Hamilton Masakadza's bowling.
Guptill 109 (236b 11x4 2x6), would have been all the more disappointed with his soft dismissal because the ball was pitched in the middle of the track and he could have hit it anywhere.
Taylor, who is not out on 76; and BJ Watling (16*), survived some nervy moments before stumps but ensured there wouldn't be any more gifted wickets for Zimbabwe on the day
Brief scores
New Zealand 275 for 3 (Guptill 109, Taylor 76*, Williamson 49)
