Ross Taylor's fifth score of 150-plus, coupled with BJ Watling's sixth Test century helped the visitors build on their overnight lead of 151 runs. After declaring their first innings shortly into the final session of the day, the experienced pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee strengthened New Zealand's grip on the game with quick wickets in the opening spell.
Ish Sodhi's wicket was probably the only moment of the day that belonged to the hosts. Michael Chinouya struck early in the day to get rid of New Zealand's night-watchman on 11, which brought Watling onto the pitch.
Zimbabwe's struggles seemed unending as the duo took no chances whatsoever in their 253-run alliance. The partnership that lasted nearly 65 overs, across the three sessions of the game on Day 3, took New Zealand's lead to a mammoth 412 runs before Watling's wicket prompted Kane Williamson to declare on 576 for 6.
Taylor carried on from where he had left off the previous evening. The former New Zealand captain raised his 14th Test hundred with his trademark square-cut shot for a boundary and then converted it into his fifth 150-plus score to blunt Zimbabwe's attack.
To add to Zimbabwe's woes, Watling too capitalized on the situation and notched up a ton, shortly after Tea. Their 250-plus stand tormented the home team before Sikandar Raza got his team the breakthrough they had been desperately searching for.
Despite having spent nearly six sessions on the field, Zimbabwe's troubles were far from over. Their second innings saw a familiar top-order collapse, triggered by Boult's early spell of 3 for 33.
Chamu Chibhabha kicked off in style - an elegant drive through the covers that was stopped, unfortunately, just short of the boundary ropes. Hamilton Masakadza, filling in for stand-in keeper Brian Chari, got it right in his first attempt as the two picked up seven off the first two deliveries to start on a promising note. The bowler, however, had the last laugh.
Southee made a strong comeback as the makeshift opener Masakadza edged behind to Taylor at first slip without adding anything to his score. The see-saw over ended with Zimbabwe's score on 8 for 1. Little did anyone know that this wasn't the end.
Boult then produced a fiery spell to jolt the home team's second innings early. In the space of next three overs, Zimbabwe slipped to 17 for 4 with Chari, Chibhabha and first innings hero Prince Masvuare all falling in quick succession. Chari was done in by an inswinging delivery. As the batsman attempted to defend, he left a gap wide enough between the bat and the pad for the ball to sneak past and knock off his off-stump.
Chibhabha and Masvuare were dismissed off successive deliveries in Boult's next over. While the Zimbabwean opener edged the second ball to first slip for an easy catch, the No. 5 batsman was trapped plumb in front.
Raza (37) safely negotiated the hat-trick delivery and went on to stabilize Zimbabwe's sinking ship with a rapid 69-run fifth-wicket stand with Craig Ervine (49 not out).
Neil Wagner, who took a six-for in Zimbabwe's first innings, produced the breakthrough to put an end to the partnership that revived home team's hopes of surviving the day without any further hiccups. Just like he had tricked the batsmen earlier - with a series of short deliveries - Wagner tempted Raza into playing a fatal pull as Tom Latham pouched an easy catch behind the stumps.
Skipper Graeme Cremer (14 not out) and Ervine lasted the final few overs of the day as the hosts ended Day 3 of the first Test on 121, with a deficit of another 291 runs and half their team back in the hut.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 164 and 121 for 5 (Craig Ervine 49*, Sikandar Raza 37; Trent Boult 3-33) trail New Zealand 576 for 6 dec. (Ross Taylor 173*, BJ Watling 107, Tom Latham 107) by 291 runs.
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