Guptill Powers New Zealand Into Strong Position

Guptill Powers New Zealand Into Strong Position

Martin Guptill plays a shot en route to his Test century against Zimbabe in Bulawayo

©REUTERS / Action Images

New Zealand 275-3 (Guptill 109) v Zimbabwe
Only Test, Bulawayo, day one
Scorecard

Martin Guptill stroked a century and captain Ross Taylor 76 not out to put New Zealand in a strong position at the close of day one of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Guptill's 109 helped the tourists close on 275-3 after they won the toss and handed debuts to quick bowler Doug Bracewell and all-rounder Dean Brownlie.

Kyle Jarvis and Hamilton Masakadza were the only Zimbabweans to take a wicket on a difficult day for the home side while Kane Williamson was run out for 49.

Zimbabwe handed debuts to wicket-keeper Regis Chakabva, fast bowler Njabulo Ncube and all-rounder Malcolm Waller and had an early breakthrough when Brendon McCullum (14) chopped Jarvis onto his stumps.

Guptill and Williamson then added 75 for the second wicket which was broken when Williamson was run out by Ray Price one run short of what would have been a third Test half-century.

132 runs were then added by Guptill, who made his way to a second Test century, facing 236 balls in all, hitting 11 fours and two sixes before he was caught by Tatenda Taibu off Masakadza.

Taylor survived a few nervy moments early in his innings to reach a solid 76 in 160 balls alongside BJ Watling, who had hit 16 in 26 deliveries when stumps were drawn.

© Cricket World 2011