Brownlie's knock will have been pleasing for the coaching staff, who have shown plenty of faith in the Australian-born right-hander, after he provided promise from his first two seasons with Canterbury.
The 27-year-old averages just under 50 in first-class cricket, with two centuries and four 50s from the domestic circuit to his name.
Brownlie and Vettori provided the only meaningful partnership of the day for the Kiwis as they piled on 81 runs for the sixth wicket following the loss of Watling.
Ultimately though, that inability to string together another major partnership cost the Black Caps the chance to post a massive first innings score.
Zimbabwe were cautious with the bat after they had bowled the Kiwis out and they crawled along at a touch above two runs per over.
Pace bowler Chris Martin, who is poised on 199 test match wickets, failed to grab his elusive 200th scalp during his eight overs with the ball.
The 36-year-old opened the bowling with rookie Doug Bracewell, who is playing his first test match as Zimbabwe ended the day on 82-1.
Bracewell, 21, proved hard to handle for the home side and although he failed to pick up a wicket, his 10 overs cost only 13 runs and he built up plenty of pressure as he sent down seven maiden overs.
Vettori, so often the Mr Fix-It of the national side, picked up the only wicket of the day for New Zealand when he trapped opener Tino Mawoyo in front for five runs.
His opening partner, Vusi Sibanda, playing in only his sixth test, notched up his second half century of his short career late in the day as he made it to stumps unbeaten on 53.
Hamilton Masakadza was at the other end on 22, while Jeetan Patel was the other Black Caps bowler used and his nine overs cost 18 runs for no wicket.
The Black Caps went in to the game light on bowling resources, so part-timers Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson could likely expect a turn at the bowling crease during day three as the Kiwis look to bowl Zimbabwe out.
Scoreboard at stumps on day two of the one-off test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand at Queens Sports Club:
Scorecard
New Zealand 1st Innings
(Overnight 275-3)
Martin Guptill c Taibu b Masakadza 109
Brendon McCullum b Jarvis 14
Kane Williamson run out Price 49
Ross Taylor c Chakabva b Ncube 76
BJ Watling c Chakabva b Mpofu 39
Dean Brownlie c Taylor b Price 63
Daniel Vettori c Taylor b Mpofu 40
Reece Young not out 9
Doug Bracewell b Mpofu 0
Jeetan Patel c Mawoyo b Mpofu 12
Chris Martin b Price 0
Extras: (7b, 3lb, 2w, 3nb) 15
TOTAL: (all out) 426
Overs: 143.3
Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-115, 3-247, 4-275, 5-320, 6-401, 7-407, 8-407, 9-425.
Bowling: Kyle Jarvis 28-6-98-1 (3nb, 1w), Njabulo Ncube 25-4-80-1, Chris Mpofu 34-10-92-4 (1w), Ray Price 42.3-7-118-2, Hamilton Masakadza 11-4-20-1, Malcolm Waller 3-0-8-0.
Zimbabwe 1st Innings
Tino Mawoyo lbw b Vettori 5
Vusi Sibanda not out 53
Hamilton Masakadza not out 22
Extras: (2lb) 2
TOTAL: (for 1 wicket) 82
Overs: 40.
Fall of wicket: 1-24.
Still to bat: Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu, Malcolm Waller, Regis Chakabva, Ray Price, Kyle Jarvis, Chris Mpofu, Njabulo Ncube.
Bowling: Chris Martin 8-3-26-0, Doug Bracewell 10-7-13-0, Daniel Vettori 13-5-23-1, Jeetan Patel 9-1-18-0.
Toss: New Zealand.
