After wondering whether they could pick up 20 wickets on unresponsive Zimbabwean surfaces before the series began, New Zealand did it twice to comprehensively complete a 2-0 series sweep of Zimbabwe by securing a 254-run win on the fifth day of the second Test in Bulawayo.
Legspinner, Ish Sodhi 3-19 and part-time off spinner, Martin Guptill 3-11, both bagged three wickets as Zimbabwe ,who resumed on an overnight score of 58-3 , were bowled out for 132.
Two poor umpiring decisions in the morning session opened Zimbabwe up and the middle and lower order could not muster the fight they had shown earlier in the series.
Martin Guptill proved a surprise destroyer finding turn that neither of New Zealand’s specialist spinners had produced, although, Ish Sodhi finished the match with seven wickets including a career best four for 60 in the first innings.
The hosts started the day reasonably well as Donald Tiripano who scored 22 runs and Craig Ervine who added 27 runs and scorer of a century in Zimbabwe’s first innings, negotiated the opening 22 overs of the day, adding 39 for the fourth wicket.
Tiripano, however, was claimed by Mitchell Santner (1-15) to a dubious leg before wicket (lbw) decision, while Ervine was also unlucky to be given out after being caught behind when replays show he didn’t get an edge on Guptill’s delivery.
Guptill then added the strike of Sean Williams (11) soon after lunch before Sodhi grabbed three of the final four Zimbabwe wickets to the hosts losing their last five wickets for just two runs.
After the break, it appeared the sting had been taken out of the Zimbabwean tail. A combination of poor shot selection and more poor umpiring decisions led to their undoing.
Umpire Paul Reiffel ruled Graeme Cremer lbw even though he had hit the ball and Michael Gough ruled Masvaure out caught though the ball had lobbed off his pad to slip. New Zealand needed only 44 minutes to wrap up the five wickets they needed.
Despite the decisions, the end result reflects the difference between the two teams. While New Zealand had three centurions in each Test, Zimbabwe only had two in the series and could not string together enough big partnerships.
Zimbabwe were unable to bowl New Zealand out even once and managed just 12 wickets in the series but showed that with more cricket, they have the talent to improve.
