BULAWAYO (Zimbabwe), Aug 16: Nathan Astle smashed an unbeaten century as New Zealand took an iron grip on the second Test against Zimbabwe here on Tuesday as they reached 454 for seven wickiets at stumps on the second day, a lead of 233 runs.

Astle finished on 116 not out, his 11th Test century coming off 154 balls as his team scored over 400 runs in the day as they passed and then sprinted away from Zimbabwe’s first innings total of 231 all out.

The high Kiwi score was based mainly on three partnerships - 138 by skipper Stephen Fleming and Lou Vincent, 87 by Scott Styris and Astle and 83 by Astle and Vettori.

For Fleming it was a memorable day as he went past the 6000 runs in Tests landmark after reaching 15 runs early in the morning session.

His milestone came in his 96th Test and in his 165th Test innings.

He was eventually out for 65, his 40th Test half century.

Vincent appeared likely to reach his 10th century in Tests but, when he was on 92, he was clean bowled by Heath Streak.

Fleming and Vincent were both out 35 minutes after the lunch break as New Zealand faltered at 205-4 but Astle and Styris came together to add 87 and put the Kiwis back on course.

The one bonus for Zimbabwe was debutant Keith Dabengwa. The young left-arm spinner captured two wickets in consistent spells.

Otherwise the New Zealanders were rarely troubled by the mostly inexperienced Zimbabwe bowlers, not least because the wicket was easy paced and favouring batsmen throughout.

With New Zealand’s massive lead, Zimbabwe are once again sighting a rearguard action.

New Zealand won the first Test in Harare by an innings and 294 runs with more than three days to spare earlier in August as the home side became just the second team ever to be bowled out twice on the same day.

SCOREBOARD