New Zealand put themselves in a winning position on a satisfying second day of their Zimbabwe cricket tour opener against a President's X1 in Mutare yesterday.
At stumps, New Zealand were 105 for two in their second innings, an overall lead of 239 and plenty of time to push for victory on the final day.
Tall Northern Districts pace bowler Daryl Tuffey had the best bowling figures in his second game for New Zealand, taking four for 48 off 13 overs, although his figures were not helped by eight no-balls and two wides. All his wickets came from catches.
Vice-captain Chris Cairns and fellow opening bowler Shayne O'Connor were both tidy in their first tour workouts. Cairns took two for 35 off 16 overs, while O'Connor took two for 33 off 16.
Spinner Daniel Vettori took the final wicket of the innings to end with one for 49 off 18.2 overs. He loomed as a key man on the final day with the pitch deteriorating.
The home side resumed day two on 20 for one in reply to New Zealand's 339 for nine declared, and after reaching lunch on 103 for five, they were dismissed by tea. Stuart Carlisle, who scored 92, and Tatenda Taibu, with 28, provided the best of the batting during a sixth-wicket partnership of 67. The next highest score was the 27 extras.
At the close, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was unbeaten on 14 with Mathew Sinclair on 19 and needing a good score to secure the test No 3 spot.
The pair were building on a solid start from likely test opening pair Matthew Horne and Mark Richardson, who put on 61 runs for the first wicket. Richardson scored 47 before he was bowled by left-armer Bryan Strang, the same way he was dismissed for 24 in the first innings.
- NZPA
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