A dominant stand between centurion Tom Latham and captain Kane Williamson carried New Zealand to a commanding first-innings lead on day two of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club.

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Latham registered his fourth Test century while Williamson made 91 as New Zealand moved to 315 for four at the close of play, giving them a lead of 151 runs.


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The pair added 156 for the second wicket, but were eventually parted when Latham chased a wide delivery from Hamilton Masakadza and was caught behind for 105.

Williamson then fell to the bowling of legspinner Graeme Cremer, before Donald Tiripano used the second new ball to get rid of Henry Nicholls.

Ross Taylor and nightwatchman Ish Sodhi were the not-out batsmen at the close, on 38 and five respectively.


New Zealand, 1st Innings; Zimbabwe 164


Over 100 || Score 315/4 (Taylor 38; Sodhi 5)


Day 2's play ended with dominant Kiwis taking a 151 run lead over hosts Zimbabwe. Earlier, Tom Latham cracked a century even as Kane Williamson missed out on his own hundred.


Over 95 || Score 301/4 (Taylor 29; Sodhi 1)


Hosts Zimbabwe fought back by taking wickets even as New Zealand continue to push for a huge lead. Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson missed a chance to hit century. His 91 runs came off 179 balls.


Henry Nicholls was the other Kiwi batsman to fall.


Over 82 || Score 264/2 (Williamson 85; Taylor 17)


DRINKS


New Zealand consolidated their lead further with skipper Kane Williamson taking over from Tom Latham.


Over 73 || Score 236/2 (Williamson 54; Taylor 0)


Tom Latham hit his fourth Test century as New Zealand took complete control of the match. The 24-year-old stitched a 156-run stand with skipper Kane Williamson, before his departure.


WICKET: Tom Latham c Brian Chari b Hamilton Masakadza 105 (209b)


That happened off the off the second ball of 73rd over.


Williamson is joined by Ross Taylor.


Over 62 || Score 205/1 (Latham 96; Williamson 54)


New Zealand captain Kane Williamson reached his fifty even as his batting partner Tom Latham moved closer to a Test ton.


Kiwis have crossed 200-run mark.


Over 50 || Score 166/1 (Latham 78; Williamson 38)


Tom Latham and Kane Williamson stand steadied New Zealand innings and now have crossed Zimbabwe's first innings total of 164.


Over 40 | Score 123/1


Latham scored his 8th Test with a boundary.


Over 27 | Score 83/1


Chibhabha got the all-important wicket of the dangerous Martin Guptill. Skipper Kane Williamson is the new man in.


Over 25 | Score 79/0


Martin Guptill and Tom Latham have provided the visitors a solid start for far. The Zimbabweans are in desperate need of a breakthrough here.


Day 1 round up


Bulawayo Province: Left-arm seamer Neil Wagner`s raw pace and aggression proved too much for an out-of-touch Zimbabwean batting lineup as New Zealand stamped their authority on the first Test on the opening day at Queens Sports Club on Thursday.


On a surface offering little to the bowlers, Wagner bent his back and used the short ball to good effect to take career-best figures of 6 for 41, bowling Zimbabwe out for just 164 after they had won the toss and elected to bat first.


Zimbabwe had not played a Test since November 2014, and the hiatus showed in their inability to occupy the crease on a pitch that held no demons.


New Zealand closed the day on 32 without loss, with Tom Latham on 16 and Martin Guptill on 14.


New Delhi: Welcome to our live cricket blog for Day 2 of the 1st Test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand at Bulawayo. Follow live score and latest updates, as we bring you ball-by-ball coverage right here.