Cricket: Vettori batters Zimbabwe with whirlwind century

Daniel Vettori celebrates his century against Zimbabwe during day one of the first test in Harare. Picture / Reuters

HARARE - By any sort of logic, Daniel Vettori's record-breaking 127 on the opening day of the first test against Zimbabwe in Harare overnight should have been snuffed out 60 runs earlier.

Vettori reached his second century off just 82 balls, one faster than Bruce Taylor against the West Indies at Eden Park in 1968-69.

His innings set New Zealand up for a towering total of 452 for nine, and that after they hovered on the brink of ignominy on 113 for five.

An amazing 219 runs were scored in a sizzling final session, and 62 fours and four sixes were struck on a day when politics was banished from the mind by the sheer drama that unfolded amid the gables and thatched roofs of Harare Sports Club.

But it shouldn't have been quite so festive. Vettori was 67 not out when he faced Heath Streak and sent a thick inside edge crashing into his wicket.

The leg stump stood at a jaunty angle, the Zimbabwean team celebrated the dismissal with gusto, and in the stands the nation was happy.

Vettori wheeled in disgust and set off towards the dressing room.

But something was wrong with the picture - the bails remained firmly on the wicket, despite the leaning leg stump.

Vettori was not out, and cricket's illogicality was confirmed.

"I was ready to smash the stumps," Vettori told reporters after the close. "Then I looked around and saw the bails were still on.

"I worked out the scenarios in my head and I realised I was not out."

Vettori's gobsmacking stroke of luck was the last straw for the Zimbabwean captain, Tatenda Taibu.

"You just don't need that to happen," he sighed. "If we had got Vettori out there it could have been different."

Instead, the Kiwi crunch continued, and buy the close the visitors were well on top.

Vettori's fine innings, an inspired amalgam of innovation, superb hand-eye co-ordination and plenty of perspiration, wasn't all New Zealanders had to take their minds off the painful Tri-Nations rugby scoreline from the day before.

Brendon McCullum strode to the wicket with the scoreboard reading that ominous 113 for five, and proceeded to smash New Zealand out of trouble with a breathtaking 111 off 112 balls.

He couldn't have done so were it not for the granite presence Stephen Fleming, whose patient 73 was a complete contrast to what was happening at the other end of the pitch and no less valuable for that. Together they shared 120 precious runs.

"Brendon and Stephen set up some momentum and I came in and made the most of it," Vettori said.

"Brendon managed to take the initiative way from the Zimbabweans completely.

"He played some risky shots, but that's the way he plays."

A pitch that offered the seamers considerable assistance until midway through the second session was tamed as the day wore on, and a fast outfield only added to the carnival of runs.

"You don't often see less than 300 runs scored in a day at Harare, this is what people want to see," Vettori said.

"It was pretty exciting, especially in that last session."

Shane Bond did his bit by hitting three fours and three sixes in a quickfire 41 not out, and even Chris Martin, who was four not out, resembled someone who may once have held a bat.

* Scoreboard at close of play on the first day in the test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand:

New Zealand 1st innings

J Marshall c Taibu b Mahwire 5
L Vincent c Carlisle b Mahwire 13
H Marshall lbw b Mpofu 20
S Fleming c Carlisle b Mpofu 73
N Astle c Taylor b Streak 23
S Styris run out 7
B McCullum c Cremer b Mahwire 111
D Vettori b Streak 127
J Franklin b Cremer 13
S Bond not out 41
C Martin not out 4
Extras (b1 lb7 nb5 w2) 15
Total (for 9 wickets, 89 overs) 452

Fall: 21 24 63 104 113 233 309 369 432

Bowling: Streak 23.4 overs 5 maidens 102 runs 2 wickets, Mahwire 26-4-115-3 (nb2 w2), Mpofu 16.2-1-100-2 (nb2), Cremer 22-0-113-1 (nb1), Taylor 1-0-14-

- NZPA