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New Zealand pile on runs against Zimbabwe in second Test

Playing in his 50th Test match, Williamson also became the quickest to get there – in 91 innings.

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The hosts reached 305-6 in their first innings at stumps on the third day in a bid to avoid the follow-on and need another 78 runs to do so after New Zealand’s 582-4 declared.

Ross Taylor scored his second consecutive unbeaten century in the series.

The New Zealand captain became the first from his country, the 13th overall and only the second after Younis Khan among the current crop of internationals to score a century against all nine other Test nations.

Chibhabha was unbeaten on 31 at the close of play, while Mawoyo was 20 not out in his first Test innings in nearly three years.

Taylor passed Martin Crowe in third on the list of all-time New Zealand test run-scorers as he bagged his third unbeaten test century in a row against the Zimbabweans with another high-class knock. Nearly without trying, the Taylor-Watling stand grew to 193 and the score approached 600 before tea was called and New Zealand made a decision to declare.

Williamson finally went in the ninth over of the day when he was caught at gully flashing at a wide Michael Chinouya ball, before Henry Nicholls was trapped lbw by Graeme Cremer for 15.

Once New Zealand saw there was no swing on offer for the first five overs, which were all maidens, the slip cordon was trimmed and the leg-side field was packed as Tim Southee and Trent Boult switched to a short-ball strategy.

Williamson wasn’t the only Kiwi to post a hundred in the innings, with opener Tom Latham making 136 – his second hundred of a series that New Zealand lead 1-0. Zimbabwe proved as much by not losing a wicket on the second evening, but New Zealand chipped away at them over the first two sessions on Monday. “We know they’re not going to lie down so we’re going to have to keep fighting”, Jurgensen said.

That allowed them to open up in the last 10 overs of the day, with Chibhabha moving to 31 and Mawoyo reaching stumps on 20.

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“We’re going to come up with some plans overnight and hopefully come out and pick up a few wickets early tomorrow”, said Watling.

Hamilton Masakadza drives a delivery from Morne Morkel during the ICC World Twenty20 Pool C match between South Africa and Zimbabwe in Hambantota Sri Lanka on the 20th September 2012