New Zealand punish dismal Zimbabwe on day one

New Zealand opener Tom Latham fell one ball short of batting the entire first day of the second Test in Zimbabwe, with his score of 136 also one run behind his previous Test best.

The Black Caps ended a day of dominance on 329-2 after winning the toss and batting trouble-free throughout.

Martin Guptill (87) and Latham put on just their second 100-run opening stand together, but their 169-run union was a personal record, surpassing their 148-run partnership scored against England at Lord's last year.

A string of Graeme Cremer (0-108) overs either side of lunch brought milestones as Latham and Guptill's partnership reached 100 before each batsmen registered their fifties off the Zimbabwe captain.

Cremer had also eked out the only half-chance, Guptill edging the spinner behind shortly after passing 50, but wicketkeeper Peter Moor could not react quickly enough as the ball thudded into his glove and bounced to safety.

Guptill eventually perished after scoring 87 from 149 balls, Donald Tiripano (1-58) beating the batsman's tentative prod and trapping him lbw, but was happy with his watchful effort, detailing New Zealand's desire for another innings victory.

"We just want to bat once in both Tests here," Guptill said at the end of play.

"It's a very slow and low wicket. I'd rather have the team at 329-2 than me scoring a hundred and the team not doing so well."

The departure brought captain Kane Williamson to the crease in his 50th Test and he scored at an increased rate to Latham and Guptill, bringing up his fifty from 74 balls - 22 and 19 deliveries quicker respectively.

Williamson ended the day unbeaten on 95 and will look to register a century on day two which will make him the 13th man to score a hundred against all opposing Test nations.

He will be paired with Ross Taylor when play resumes on Sunday, with Latham having fallen to the penultimate delivery of the day, bunting a Sean Williams (1-15) delivery straight back to the bowler, who took an impressive stooping catch.