Cricket: NZ racks up the runs in Gisborne

Ross Taylor cracks four on the off side on the last day of the NZ XI v Zimbabwe match at Harry Barker Reserve in Gisborne. Photo / Gisborne Herald

The New Zealand XI middle order enjoyed some valuable time at the crease as their three-day match against Zimbabwe came to an insipid end in Gisborne today.

Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Dan Vettori all enjoyed extended spells in the middle in the lead-up to the one-off test with Zimbabwe, commencing on Thursday in Napier.

The warm-up match at Harry Barker Reserve ended in a predictable draw, with the New Zealand batsmen content to put runs on the board against the Zimbabwe bowlers. Stumps were eventually drawn with New Zealand XI on 274 for the loss of one legitimate wicket - that of 20-year-old opener Michael Bracewell who fell for 26.

Four other batsmen joined Bracewell back in the pavilion but that was of their own choosing, as Williamson, Taylor, Kruger van Wyk and BJ Watling all retired to give those behind them an opportunity for some batting practice.

Taylor was pleased with his innings of 54, and felt it the perfect preparation for the return to the test environment.

"It was nice to be able to spend some time out in the middle," he said. "I felt a bit lost in the first innings after playing a lot of Twenty20."

After Zimbabwe added only one run to their overnight score of 329, test wicketkeeping contender Kruger van Wyk quickly set about overhauling the tourists' first innings advantage of 59. He dominated the early stages and was the first to retire with 61, a promising knock but one unlikely to displace favourite BJ Watling from behind the stumps in Napier.

Van Wyk was followed by Kane Williamson (52) and Taylor, who both joined van Wyk with an aggressive approach. BJ Watling also retired for 20, while Dan Vettori (41) and new Black Cap Sam Wells (5) were unbeaten at stumps.

With coach John Wright not even on hand to watch the last day's play after leaving early for Napier, the seriousness with which the teams approached the final day was questionable. But Taylor pointed out a couple of positives to come from a warm up game, such as the chance to have their first look at Zimbabwe paceman Brian Vitori.

"He bowled well in the first innings, he had a bit of gas behind him," Taylor said. "He probably held himself back a bit today. We got an idea what he bowls but we will have to wait and see."

Taylor thinks Zimbabwe are capable of providing a stern challenge for his team when the test gets underway on Thursday, and he said the visitors are a better team than they were at home last year where New Zealand edged the only test by 34 runs.

"They're an emerging nation, the more cricket they play, the better they'll get. I'm sure in a few years, this team will be very good."

Earlier in the day, Otago allrounder Wells was added to the 13-man New Zealand squad for the test in Napier, and Taylor singled out Wells' first innings score of 65 for praise.

"He's in contention to play test cricket for New Zealand so he can take some confidence from his first innings."

With his right-arm medium-fast deliveries Wells took 0-26 off 9 overs.

- Additional reporting by Wynsley Wrigley of the Gisborne Herald.