It was the 1524th Test match in cricket history. It was New Zealand's 285th and Zimbabwe's 48th Test. It was the 11th Test between the two sides. The record now reads: New Zealand 5, drawn 6. It was the fifth Test between the two sides in New Zealand. The record now reads: won 2, drawn 3. It was the 37th match on this ground - second between these two sides. Umpires BC Cooray and Steve Dunne officiated in their 20th and 37th match respectively. Dougie Marillier made his Test debut. He became the 47th player to represent Zimbabwe in Test cricket. The fifth wicket partnership of 222 between Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan is New Zeland's best for this wicket against all countries. This obliterates the previous record stand of 183 between Ross Anderson and Mark Burgess against Pakistan at Lahore in 1976-77. Incidentally the previous highest fifth wicket partnership for New Zealand against Zimbabwe was 166 run stand between Chris Cairns and Adam Parore at Auckland in 1995-96. New Zealand's first innings total of 487-7 decl is its highest against Zimbabwe -home or away. This obliterates the previous highest of 465 in the first innings of Harare Test in 2000-01. Incidentally the previous highest for New Zealand against Zimbabwe at home soil was 460 at Auckland in 1997-98. The fourth wicket partnership of 130 runs between Gavin Rennie and Andy Flower is Zimbabwe's best for this wicket against New Zealand beating the 88 run-partnership between Andy Flower and Dave Houghton at Auckland in 1995-96. Astle has now scored 1336 runs in 39 innings at batting position five for New Zealand. He has now scored maximum runs for New Zealand at number five surpassing Mark Burgess' tally of 1316 runs in 43 innings. Zimbabwe's first innings total (340-6d) is its highest against New Zealand in New Zealand obliterating the previous highest of 326 for nine decl at Auckland in 1995-96. Gavin Rennie (93) made his highest Test score. His previous highest was 84 against India at Harare in 1998-99. Rennie also became the fourth batsman to be a victim of nervous ninety after Grant Flower (96 v India at Delhi in 1992-93), Alistair Campbell (99 v Sri Lanka at Harare in 1994-95) and Murray Goodwin (91 v Australia at Harare in 1999-00). Andy Flower's innings of 79 was his sixth consecutive score of fifty plus in Tests since his 65 against New Zealand in the second innings of Harare Test in September 2000, followed by 183* and 70 against India at Delhi and 55 and 232* also against India at Nagpur in November 2000. Andy Flower is now just one short of the world record of seven consecutive fifties which is currently held by West Indian Everton Weekes from 1947-48 to 1948-49 seasons. Andy Flower became the first Zimbabwean and 16th batsman overall to score six or more fifties in consecutive innings in Tests. Flower on 34 completed 1000 runs in the year 2000. He became the second batsman to do so this year after Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq who aggregated 1090 runs in 12 matches. Andy also became the first Zimbabwean to achieve this landmark. A total of 37 batsmen have accomplished the feat of aggregating 1000 runs in a year on 49 occasions. Of these 12 belong to Australia, 10 to England, 5 to India, 4 to the West Indies, 2 each to Sri Lanka and Pakistan and one each to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Chris Martin (5-71) became the first New Zealander to capture five wickets in an innings against Zimbabwe in New Zealand. The previous best by a New Zealander in a home Test against Zimbabwe was 4 for 35 at Auckland in 1997-98. Stephen Fleming was run-out in both the innings. He became the third New Zealander to achieve this dubious distinction after Noel McGregor (v South Africa at Dunedin in 1963-64) and Andrew Jones (v Pakistan at Christchurch in 1993-94). The wicket of Craig McMillan in the second innings was 50th for Bryan Strang in his 24th Test. He became the fifth Zimbabwean to do so after Heath Streak (138 in 36), Paul Strang (70 in 23), Henry Olonga (52 in 22) and Guy Whittall (50 in 37). At the end of the Test: Overall Test record:
New Zealand: played 285, won 46, lost 116 and drawn 123.
Zimbabwe: played 48, won 3, lost 25, drawn 20.
Captaincy record:
Stephen Fleming: played 33, won 12, lost 12, drawn 9.
Heath Streak: played 5, lost 3, drawn 2.
