7 Aug 2016

Latham's ton sees NZ dominate day one

10:37 am on 7 August 2016

Tom Latham scored a century for a second successive match as the Black Caps pulverised the home bowling to finish 329 for 2 after the first day of the second cricket Test against Zimbabwe.

Tom Latham didn't get going in his second innings against Sri Lanka at Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand. Sunday 20 December 2015. Copyright photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Tom Latham Photo: Photosport

Latham, who made 105 in the first Test, scored 136 before being caught and bowled in the last over of the day.

Captain Kane Williamson, playing his 50th Test, will start Day 2, five runs short of his century.

Martin Guptill was the first man out, trapped lbw to a full delivery from Donald Tiripano.

Look back at the commentary here:

Guptill went for 87 after sharing an aggressive opening partnership of 167 with Latham on a slow wicket after Williamson won the toss.

Latham's century came up off 190 balls and he continued to look comfortable until the penultimate delivery of the day when he spooned the ball back to Williams. The partnership for the second wicket was worth 160 runs.

Zimbabwe's bowlers proved wayward, allowing the visitors to set up a consistent scoring rate and dominate proceedings.

Spinner Graeme Cremer took the most punishment as he went for 108 runs in his 25 overs as the track failed to provide any turn.

New Zealand won the first test at the same venue by an innings and 117 runs inside four days, scoring 576 for six. The series is being played over two matches and marks a first test in 20 months for the Zimbabweans.

-Reuters