Will Young put New Zealand in control on the opening day of the second Test in Bulawayo, hitting a solid 74 as the visitors closed play on 174 for 1 in reply to Zimbabwe’s 125.
Having dismissed Zimbabwe within the first two sessions of the day, New Zealand’s top order cashed in on conditions as this Test only heads into day three. Young and fellow opener Devon Conway added 162 runs for the first wicket to wipe out the deficit and put their side ahead by 49 runs with nine wickets remaining.
It was Young’s knock of 120 balls with nine fours. He stood out for the timing of his shot, especially through the covers. It wasn’t flashy. Just normal, Test-match appropriate batting. The damage, though, had been done and he eventually fell to Trevor Gwandu late in the third session.
Conway remained unbeaten as stumps were drawn, with New Zealand in a position of strength heading into Day 2.
For Young, the 74 marked his 11th Test fifty. He now has 1,178 runs in the format at an average of 32.72. In matches played away from home, he’s produced 697 runs across 11 games at 36.88. This was also his sixth half-century in overseas Tests.
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Against Zimbabwe specifically, he’s now scored 115 runs in two matches at an average of 57.50. That’s a small sample, but it points to a batter who handles conditions on the continent well.
Statistically, the opening stand between Young and Conway now ranks as New Zealand’s third-highest against Zimbabwe in Tests. Only Roger Twose and Craig Spearman (214 in 1996) and Tom Latham with Martin Guptill (169 in 2016) have posted more.
New Zealand came into this match with a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series. The early signs suggest they’re well on their way to making it two from two. But it’s early. Plenty of cricket left to play.
As for Zimbabwe, they’ll need breakthroughs early on Day 2. Otherwise, this match might start slipping away even faster than the first.
