Follow UsMatt Henry bowled New Zealand into a dominant position on the first day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday. The speedster took six for 39 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 149 after winning the toss and deciding to bat.
This was the best-ever bowling figures by a New Zealand pacer in Zimbabwe. The record was earlier held by Neil Wagner, who had taken 6/41. Overall, this is the second-best figures by a Kiwi bowler against Zimbabwe in Tests, irrespective of home or away conditions, reflecting how special a performance it was from Henry.
After cleaning up the hosts, New Zealand were 92 for no wicket at the close, with Devon Conway and Will Young unbeaten on 51 and 41 respectively.
Henry, who was the best player of the T20I tri-series tournament, which ended on Saturday, did not take long to adjust to red-ball cricket in New Zealand's first Test since December last year. He dismissed both Zimbabwe's opening batsmen, Brian Bennett (6) and Ben Curran (13), inside the first seven overs.
He took two more wickets in an over interrupted by the lunch break, then came back to finish off the innings with his final two victims shortly after tea. Seamer Nathan Smith also took three for 20 in 14 tight overs.
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine, who took 23 balls to score his first run, top-scored for Zimbabwe with 39, eked out over 116 deliveries. Ervine and Nick Welch (27) put on 36 for the fourth wicket after Zimbabwe were reeling at 31 for three.
But Henry returned for the last over before lunch to have Welch caught at second slip. Three balls later, after lunch, he had the experienced Sikandar Raza caught behind for two.
Ervine and wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga (30) added 54 for the sixth wicket to lift Zimbabwe from 69 for five. Smith trapped both batsmen leg before wicket shortly before tea and Zimbabwe's resistance crumbled.
In reply, Conway and Young batted through to the close of play, scoring steadily after a cautious start. Zimbabwe opening bowler Blessing Muzarabani had an opening spell of eight overs but was unable to make a breakthrough.
Zimbabwe have played eight Tests since New Zealand last played a Test but have lost six, drawn one and had a single victory, against Bangladesh in Sylhet in April.
With inputs from AFP