Ervine walked in to bat when Zimbabwe were in trouble at 83-2 in the 46th over and batted for 306 minutes to score 115 runs in 213 balls, smashing 15 fours for his maiden hundred in his ninth Test as he put on 148 runs for the sixth wicket with Peter Moor who made 71.
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Black Caps captain Williamson (68 not out) and former skipper Taylor (67no) hit tons in the first innings and dished out more punishment to the Zimbabwe attack on Tuesday before the declaration came on 166-2.
Tim Southee, a luckless Trent Boult and Neil Wagner exerted pressure in unison, admittedly against an opponent intent on survival rather than attempting to knock any of the paceman out of whack.
Nevertheless, having declared on 582 for four in their innings, New Zealand remain confident that another result is within their grasp after dismissing Moor in the final half-hour of the day.
Ross Taylor added an unbeaten 124 to his 173* in the first test against Zimbabwe during a dominant display by the Black Caps on day two of the second test in Bulawayo.
Although openers Chibhabha and Tino Mawoyo made a promising start in reaching 45 without loss, three dismissals before the close left Zimbabwe facing a long final day to avoid defeat.
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner made the breakthrough, inducing a drive from Chibhabha that was well caught by Kane Williamson at short cover.
New Zealand’s bowler Ish Sodhi (R) fields as Craig Ervines makes his ground during the third day of the second test in a series of two matches, where New Zealand lead hosts Zimbabwe 1-0, at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on August 8, 2016.
Ervine had a life on one when Taylor grassed a regulation edge at first slip while Boult, who upped his speed to the 140kph mark for the first time this series, would have had Williams for a duck had BJ Watling been able to glove a glance down the legside.
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However New Zealand made a decision to chase quick runs before setting a declaration, most likely late in the day in a bid to wrap up a 2-0 series win.
