New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 34 runs on Saturday despite a century by Brendan Taylor on a thrilling final day of the one-off Test.

New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 34 runs on Saturday despite a century by Brendan Taylor on a thrilling final day of the one-off Test.

Taylor took Zimbabwe to 265-3 at the tea break, needing 101 runs to pull off an unlikely victory at Queens Sports Club, but he fell to the second ball of the final session.

The hosts still pressed for victory though and collapsed to 331 all out with less than six overs of the match remaining.

Doug Bracewell finished with figures of 5-85. Captain Daniel Vettori took the final wicket to end with 3-71.

Daniel Vettori's20th5 wicket haul in Test cricket put New Zealand in firm control of their one-off Test match against Zimbabwe.

Vettori recorded figures of 70 for 5 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 313, before New Zealand closed day 3 on 28 for 2, giving them an overall lead of 141.

Zimbabwe's innings was a story of missed opportunities, with Vusi Sibanda falling short of a maiden Test century and Brendan Taylor dismissed at a critical time after making a promising half-century.

Zimbabwe ensured that New Zealand's task will not be straightforward when Kyle Jarvis bowled first-innings centurion Martin Guptill in the first over of the second innings, and then Ray Price trapped Brendon McCullum lbw for 11 in the penultimate over of the day.

Kane Williamson went to stumps on 13 runs not out, while night watchman Jeetan Patel was unbeaten on 4 runs.