Chris Martin. Photo / Getty Images
Chris Martin admitted there were a few nervous moments in the field as he closed in on his 200th test wicket during day three of New Zealand's one-off test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Friday.
The veteran seamer ended day two on Thursday having bowled eight wicketless overs and began day three with plenty of zip in search of that elusive 200th scalp.
But as he watched Doug Bracewell and Dean Brownlie pick up their first test victims, Martin toiled away in the Zimbabwe heat searching for a breakthrough.
The sight of Martin steaming in with his distinct running style has been a fixture of the Black Caps' test-match attack for the past decade and, as he has done many times before, he turned to the top of his run-up and bounded in again.
Something was different, though, in his 24th over and with his 143rd ball of the innings, rookie Zimbabwe pace bowler Kyle Jarvis was caught by New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor to help Martin reach his milestone.
He joined Sir Richard Hadlee (431), Daniel Vettori (350 after Zimbabwe's first innings) and Chris Cairns (218) as the only other Kiwis to have snared 200 test wickets.
"It was actually quite a relief,'' Martin told APNZ from Zimbabwe. "I think the whole day was rather long. It added to the 10 months I'd been thinking about it.''
Being a test specialist, Martin hadn't pulled on the Black Cap since New Zealand met Pakistan in Wellington in January.
The 36-year-old said, despite a recent diet of only two Twenty20 games for Auckland and New Zealand's two-day tour match against Zimbabwe A, he pulled up from his heavy workload with the ball remarkably well.
"I've kind of put the body through enough pain and torture to handle this game reasonably well,'' he said. "I think all the bowlers were quite keen to get some bowling in their legs, so they got better and better as the innings went on.''
Martin also knocked over No 11 Chris Mpofu to wrap up the Zimbabwe innings as they were bowled out for 313 late on day three in reply to New Zealand's 426.
Vettori was the chief destroyer as he picked up five wickets to give New Zealand a 113-run lead after the first innings.
New Zealand closed day three on 28-2 following the loss of Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum to establish a lead of 141. Kane Williamson and night watchman Jeetan Patel were at the crease on 13 and four respectively.
Martin said batting on the fifth day at the Queens Sports Club would be a tough ask for the home side if they had to chase a large total.
"I think the bounce has been pretty variable throughout the game,'' Martin said. "It hasn't gotten up, it's more sort of gone down. I think the ball will definitely turn and hopefully it can do a few things for the seamers as well.''
Martin was also impressed by the young man he shared the new ball with, Doug Bracewell.
The Central Districts all-rounder is 15 years Martin's junior, but the old stager said Bracewell and the injured Tim Southee would be key cogs in New Zealand's bowling make-up in the future.
"He's a good talent. He's improving on a day-to-day basis and I think the way he's bowled in this game is going to help him hold his place in this side for many years to come."
By Daniel Richardson- APNZ
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