NAPIER (New Zealand), Jan 28: New Zealand highlighted the gulf in international cricket when they bowled Zimbabwe out twice on Saturday to win the only Test match of their tour at McLean Park by an innings and 301 runs.

The hosts declared their first innings at 495 for seven earlier on Saturday after wicket-keeper B.J. Watling posted his maiden Test century, then bowled the visitors out for 51 and 143 to record their largest victory by an innings in Tests.

It was the third time a team has been bowled out twice in one day. New Zealand also dismissed Zimbabwe twice in a day for 59 and 99 in Harare in 2005, while India were dismissed for 58 and 82 by England at Old Trafford in 1952.

The visitors had crashed to 19-5 in their first innings and looked in danger of being bowled out for the lowest total in Test cricket though Malcolm Waller took the attack to New Zealand’s bowlers until he fell to Tim Southee for 23.

The lowest score is held by New Zealand, who were dismissed for 26 against England at Eden Park in 1955.

Waller’s dismissal left Zimbabwe on 50 for eight and they added just one run for the final two wickets to record their lowest score in Tests, before stand in captain Brendon McCullum enforced the follow on.

Zimbabwe again flirted with the lowest Test score when Doug Bracewell took two wickets in the first over after tea to reduce them to 12-5, but Forster Mutizwa saw them past the mark before he was dismissed for 18.—Reuters