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New Zealand won the first Test against Zimbabwe inside three days, securing victory at the Queens Sports Club by nine wickets after skittling out the host on Friday.
Stand-in skipper Mitchell Santner took four wickets as Zimbabwe was dismissed for 165 runs in its second innings after being 31 for two overnight, leaving New Zealand with an eight-run target in the second innings.
The visitor achieved the target in 14 balls but not before opener Devon Conway was bowled in the first over by Newman Nyamburi for four.
Henry Nicholls hit the winning run in the third over after tea on the third day to see his team go 1-0 up in the two-Test series.
Zimbabwe started the day with hopes of wiping out a 158-run first innings deficit and setting a tough target for New Zealand to chase but it was always up against it despite the tourist being two bowlers short.
All-rounder Nathan Smith suffered an abdominal strain on the second day and then Will O’Rourke did not bowl after lunch on Friday because of stiffness in his back.
Zimbabwe added only three runs to its overnight score before Nick Welch was caught behind off O’Rourke and by lunch Zimbabwe was tottering at 114-6, still 44 runs adrift.
It had by then lost leading scorer Sean Williams, who tickled the ball down leg to be caught behind for 49, and captain Craig Ervine, who got a feint edge off Matt Henry on for 22.
Henry, who took six for 39 in the first innings, persisted as the lone pace man after lunch and dismissed Zimbabwe’s last recognised batsman Sikandar Raza cheaply to ensure a nine-wicket match haul.
Santner, captaining the Kiwis for the first time in the absence of the injured Tom Latham, mopped up the tail as he took the last three wickets for figures of four for 27 off 17.1 overs.
The second test will also be played in Bulawayo, starting next Thursday.
