Zimbabwe v New Zealand 1st Test – Statistical Highlights

New Zealand registered an innings win in the first of the two-Test match series against Zimbabwe hosted by Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. After electing to bat, Zimbabwe was bowled out for just 164. New Zealand innings had 3 centuries and a 90 as they posted 576/6 and took a huge first innings lead. The hosts in the second innings scored 294 thanks to Sean Williams’ century and some contributions from the lower order. Here we look at all the stats and records recorded during the game.

2 – Kane Williamson became only the 2nd player to be dismissed in 90s on captaincy debut in Tests. Tony Grieg is the other player. Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer dismissing Williamson in 90s is the 6th instance of a captain dismissing his counterpart in 90s in Test cricket.

5 – Number of times Ross Taylor has scored 150+ in Test cricket, joint 2nd most by a New Zealand player. Stephen Fleming has 5 while Brendon McCullum leads the list with 6 scores of 150+.

5 – New Zealand became only the 5th team to post 500+ total in an innings in Test cricket against all Test nations. Australia, West Indies, India and South Africa are the other countries.

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5 – Number of centuries BJ Watling has in Test cricket as wicket-keeper, joint most for a New Zealand player. Brendon McCullum also scored 5 centuries as a keeper in this format.

6/41 – Neil Wagner’s bowling figures of 6/41 in first innings are the 2nd best figures for a New Zealand bowler against Zimbabwe. These are also the best figures by a pacer at Bulawayo in Test cricket. Shane Bond’s 6/51 in 2005 was the previous best by a pacer at this venue.

9 – Number of times Kane Williamson got out in 90s in international cricket, joint most by a New Zealand player. Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle also got out in 90s on 9 occasions.

14 – Number of centuries Ross Taylor has scored in Test cricket. Among New Zealand players, only Martin Crowe with 17 centuries has more in this format.

15 – Number of wickets taken by left-arm bowlers for New Zealand in this Test, the joint most for New Zealand in a Test. 15 wickets were taken by left handers during Wellington Test against West Indies in 2013.

25 – Zimbabwe and New Zealand Test is only the 25th instance where the both sides’ captains were captaining in their first Test. Last such occasion was in 2009 between Bangladesh and West Indies.

49* – Donald Tiripano’s 49* in first innings is the highest score for a Zimbabwe player batting at No.10 or lower. Bryan Strang’s 42 against Pakistan in 1996 is the previous highest.

70.59 – Percentage of Sean Williams’ runs in the 2nd innings came off boundaries. This is the highest boundary percent for a Zimbabwe player during a Test century. Previous highest was Grant Flower’s 67.93 vs India in 2000 at Nagpur.

85 – Partnership runs between Zimbabwe’s Prince Masvaure and Donald Tiripano for the 9th wicket in first innings is their 2nd highest stand for Zimbabwe for 9th wicket in Test cricket. Highest is Strang brothers’ 87 run stand against Pakistan in 1996.

93 – Balls taken by Zimbabwe to reach team’s 100 in 2nd innings. This is the fastest team hundred for Zimbabwe in Test cricket.

126 – Number of international games Chamu Chibhabha played before playing a Test match. These are the 2nd most after Rohit Sharma, who played in 144 international games before his Test debut.

106 – Balls taken by Sean Williams for his century in 2nd innings. This is the fastest century by a Zimbabwe player in Test cricket overhauling Neil Johnson’s 107-ball century against Pakistan at Peshawar in 1998.

Inns & 117 – New Zealand’s margin of victory in this Test is their 2nd best margin outside home. They defeated Zimbabwe at Harare by innings and 294 runs.

119 – Runs scored by Sean Williams in the 2nd innings. This is the 2nd highest score by a Zimbabwe player while coming to bat at No.8 or lower in Test cricket. Highest is 127* by Heath Streak vs West Indies at Harare in 2003.

187 – Runs conceded by Graeme Cremer in New Zealand’s first innings, the most runs conceded by a captain in a Test innings. Daniel Vettori’s 178 vs India in 2010 at Nagpur were the previous best.

253 – Partnership stand for the 6th wicket between Ross Taylor and BJ Watling is the highest partnership for any wicket in Zimbabwe v New Zealand Tests. Nathan Astle and M Horne’s 243-run stand for 4th wicket at Auckland in 1998 was the previous highest.

412 – First innings lead taken by New Zealand in this game. This is the 2nd highest first innings lead they have taken in a Test match. Highest is 444 runs also against Zimbabwe at Napier in 2012 after batting first.

576/6d – New Zealand’s score in their 1st innings is their highest total in Tests against Zimbabwe. Previous highest was 495/7 dec at Napier in 2012.

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