Cricket: Martin's milestone, Vettori's five wickets lead Black Caps

Daniel Vettori remains the country's best slow operator. Photo / Christine Cornege

Chris Martin became the fourth New Zealander to take 200 test wickets and Daniel Vettori claimed his 20th five wicket bag in tests as the Black Caps toiled through a tough third day of their one-off cricket test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo overnight.

The home side began the day on 82-1 and went on their way, slowly but surely, despite the early loss of Hamilton Masakadza for 22 in the second over of the morning as debutant Doug Bracewell snared his first test wicket.

Useful contributions from skipper Brendan Taylor (50) and new face Malcolm Waller (72 not out) pushed Zimbabwe on as they looked to avoid the follow-on after the Black Caps posted 426 in their first innings.

Zimbabwe looked in a solid position at 284-5, but when wicketkeeper-batsman Regis Chakabva was run out by Bracewell the wheels fell off.

Daniel Vettori and Martin stepped in to mop up the tail and Zimbabwe lost five wickets for 29 runs in the space of only 40 minutes.

Their good work ensured the Kiwis took a 113-run lead in to their second innings.

"They fought hard. I think we challenged them and made them work for their runs," Martin told APNZ from Zimbabwe.

"The way Dan bowls at the tail is one of his extreme kind of talents and he tends to wrap it up quite quickly and I'm glad I could help out with a couple of poles at the end there."

Zimbabwean seam bowler Kyle Jarvis, in just his third test, became Martin's 200th victim when he was caught by Ross Taylor and the veteran right-armer joined Vettori, Sir Richard Hadlee and Chris Cairns as the only other Kiwis to have achieved the milestone.

Debutant Dean Brownlie also picked up a wicket with his medium pace, while Jeetan Patel bowled 23 wicket-less overs.

As the Queens Sports Club pitch continues to slow down, the Black Caps will look to build on their lead during day four, which will put them in a good position to secure a rare test-match victory.

Their progress was halted slightly though with the late loss of Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum as the New Zealanders finished on 28-2, 141 runs ahead.

Guptill was dismissed without scoring, which gave him the unique distinction of making a century and a duck in the same test match after his 109 in the first innings.

Former captain Stephen Fleming was the last Kiwi to register the same distinction when he made 192 and 0 against Pakistan in Hamilton in 2003.

Rookie Kane Williamson was not out on 13 with night watchman Patel unbeaten on four at the close of play.

Martin, who is known for his inability with the bat, said despite the euphoria of grabbing his 200th test scalp it didn't prompt him to request a shot at the night watchman's role.

"I've never ever been asked," he laughed.

"So I don't sort of know if that's in my resume to be night watchman at the moment."

Williamson and Taylor will be vital to the cause of the Black Caps who will want to set Zimbabwe a total of at least 300 for the fourth innings.

Scoreboard at stumps on the third day of the one-off test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand at Queens Sports Club:

New Zealand 1st Innings: 426

Zimbabwe 1st Innings

Tino Mawoyo lbw b Vettori 5

Vusi Sibanda c Taylor b Brownlie 93

Hamilton Masakadza b Bracewell 22

Brendan Taylor lbw b Vettori 50

Tatenda Taibu c Patel b Vettori 20

Malcolm Waller not out 72

Regis Chakabva run out 37

Ray Price lbw b Vettori 0

Kyle Jarvis c Taylor b Martin 6

Chris Mpofu c Williamson b Vettori 0

Njabulo Ncube b Martin 3

Extras: (3lb, 1w, 1nb) 5

TOTAL: (all out) 313

Bowling: Chris Martin 25.5-6-74-2, Doug Bracewell 23-12-51-1 (1nb, 1w), Daniel Vettori 43-13-70-5, Jeetan Patel 23-1-91-0, Dean Brownlie 4-0-13-1, Kane Williamson 2-0-9-0, Martin Guptill 1-0-2-0.

New Zealand 2nd innings

Brendon McCullum lbw b Price 11

Martin Guptill b Jarvis 0

Kane Williamson not out 13

Jeetan Patel not out 4

TOTAL: (for two wickets) 28

Bowling: Kyle Jarvis 4-0-14-1, Njabulo Ncube 2-0-12-0, Ray Price 1-0-2-1.