Guptill’s ton puts Kiwis in command

Opener Martin Guptill made 109 and captain Ross Taylor 76 not out as New Zealand moved to 275-3 at stumps on the first day of the one-off test against Zimbabwe on Tuesday. Guptill hit 11 fours and two sixes in his second test century, sharing partnerships of 75 with Kane Williamson (49) and 132 with Taylor before he fell to part-time bowler Hamilton Masakadza toward the end of the final session. Taylor stroked nine fours as the Black Caps took control on a placid pitch at Queens Sports Club ideal for batting.Kyle Jarvis took 1-53, removing Brendon McCullum in Zimbabwe’s initial breakthrough before Guptill, Williamson and Taylor took control. Masakadza had 1-13 while Ray Price ran out Williamson. Zimbabwe’s bowlers were able to contain the New Zealand batsmen well in the second session as they resorted to more defensive tactics on a flat pitch at Queens Sports Club. The home side struggled to create wicket-taking opportunities but enjoyed a stroke of fortune when Kane Williamson was run out in somewhat bizarre fashion just short of his half-century. Williamson came down the wicket to left-arm spinner Ray Price before pushing the ball back to the bowler, who threw the ball to the wicketkeeper. The batsman would have made his ground had he slid his bat, but instead his stride fell short of the crease and he was run out with his toe on the line. The only chance that Guptill offered in the opening two sessions was in Price’s final over before the luncheon interval when he drove the ball strongly to the bowler, who allowed it to fly through his hands and away to the boundary. Guptill was particularly strong down the ground, taking a number of singles off the slow bowlers, but also drove handsomely for three boundaries through cover. The 25-year-old went to his half-century in 117 deliveries, and soon after collected his 1000th run in Test cricket. Brendon McCullum was the only batsman to be dismissed in the first session, when he attempted to hook a delivery from Kyle Jarvis and played onto his stumps. Fast bowler Njabulo Ncube and all-rounder Malcolm Waller have been rewarded for solid showings in the final one-day international with a first cap for Zimbabwe, while Regis Chakabva also makes his Test debut having been selected to keep wicket in Tatenda Taibu’s stead. A total of five new caps were handed out prior to play, as Njabulo Ncube, Malcolm Waller and Regis Chakabva made their debuts for Zimbabwe, and Dean Brownlie and Doug Bracewell were included in New Zealand’s Test side for the first time.