Zimbabwe in New Zealand: Ross Taylor targets first innings total around 450
The New Zealand captain, Ross Taylor, has said that they are “just ahead” of the lowly ranked Zimbabwean Test side in the one-off Test being played at McLean Park, Napier. The home skipper said that they will be targeting a first innings total of 450 when
they resume their batting on day 2.
Despite getting off to a shaky start, the hosts finished at 331 for 5 at stumps on Day 1 with skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BJ-Watling-c1172 not out at the other end for15.
Speaking to media reporters at the post day press conference, the home skipper said that the Napier pitch is good for scoring and hoped to touch 400-450 by lunch tomorrow.
"It's a pretty fast-scoring outfield and they [Zimbabwe] set some defensive fields. We'll need to see through the new ball tomorrow morning, and if we are still batting after lunch, we'll be around that 400-450 mark," said the New
Zealand captain Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915.
"A score of 450 will probably not be enough [to bat once]. We'll have to bowl them out for under 250 then," he added further.
Replying to a question regarding his century, the 27-year-old middle order batsman said that like every captain, he also wants to lead his team from the front. This is Taylor’s first century since taking over as the Kiwi captain
from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DL-Vettori-c1384 after the International Cricket Council World Cup 2011.
Since then, he has scored three half centuries, one against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 tour of Zimbabwe last year). Taylor admitted that his conversion rate has not been great and needs to work hard on
it.
"I've scored a lot of 50s and my conversion rate hasn't been great," conceded the right-handed batsman.
"On New Zealand wickets and even on Australian wickets, I find that if I am driving early on, I get myself into trouble,” he added further.
Asked about their strategy for the day 2, the home skipper said that the morning session will be crucial and if they managed to survive the first two hours, then the game will be in their favour.
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