Cricket: Great result for Black Caps but not for the game

Daniel Vettori scored a century and took wickets. Picture / Reuters

Zimbabwe's international status was up for debate again yesterday after the struggling hosts were humiliated inside the first two days of the opening test against New Zealand.

Expected to provide a greater threat after the return of four former "rebels", Zimbabwe instead became only the second team in history to be dismissed twice in the same day, falling for totals of 59 and 99.

Only India, who succumbed for 58 and 82 at Manchester in 1952 had previously managed the feat, and they could at least point to the inclement Lancashire weather and a bloke named Fred Trueman.

Sadly, there could be no such excuses for Zimbabwe, on what appeared to be a near cloudless day in Harare, a relatively flat and slow pitch, and against an attack that couldn't boast a bowler in the world's top 15.

Having declared on their overnight total of 452 for nine, New Zealand took a mere 29.4 overs to run through Zimbabwe in the first innings, and were inconvenienced for just 49.5 in the second before winning by an innings and 294.

That it was their biggest winning margin in test cricket could be put down to the weakness of the opposition and a remarkable all-round performance from left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.

Apparently not content in blasting the fastest century in New Zealand test history on Monday, Vettori celebrated his return from injury with four for 28 yesterday, in the process becoming just the third Kiwi to take more than 200 wickets.

Only Sir Richard Hadlee, who set the benchmark with his world record tally of 431, and Chris Cairns, who retired last year with 218, have tasted more success with the ball at test level.

Vettori, who went into the match with 196 wickets, brought up the milestone when he had Heath Streak lbw in the 44th over, although television replays suggest the batsman edged the ball into his pad.

He told NZPA later that he felt honoured to be sharing the mantle with such an accomplished pair of bowlers.

"They've both been such huge stalwarts for New Zealand cricket and it's great to join them," he said.

"It started coming right when I had bowled six or seven overs in the second innings, it felt good to be pretty much hitting the mark."

New Zealand would have also been pleased with the manner in which Shane Bond came through his first test in two years; the penetration of James Franklin and Chris Martin, and the batting of Brendon McCullum and Stephen Fleming.

But there was little for Zimbabwe to take from the drubbing, the defeat even eclipsing the margin suffered last year when their teenage side crashed by an innings and 254-runs against Sri Lanka.

They were roundly rubbished by their local press yesterday, the Herald leading the way with some trenchant criticism, including the suggestion that the capitulation had confirmed them as "the worst team ever".

Fleming said afterwards that it was hard to imagine that his side were at one stage 113 for five and struggling. "It's good for us, but I'm not sure it's good for the game."

NZ's largest test victory margins

Innings and 294 runs v Zimbabwe, Harare, 2005-06

Innings and 185 runs v Pakistan, Hamilton, 2000-01

Innings and 132 runs v England, Christchurch, 1983-84

Innings and 105 runs v West Indies, Wellington, 1999-00

Innings and 99 runs v Pakistan, Auckland, 1984-85

Innings and 74 runs v Bangladesh, Wellington, 2001-02

Innings and 61 runs v Sri Lanka, Colombo, 1983-84

Innings and 52 runs v Bangladesh, Hamilton, 2001-02