Their previous biggest fright against either of the lower-ranked nations was New Zealand's three-wicket win in Chittagong three years ago.

This time New Zealand scraped home by 34 runs in the one-off test at Bulawayo yesterday, having offered Zimbabwe a target of 366 off 114 overs. Man-of-the-match Daniel Vettori's eighth and final wicket, of No 11 Chris Mpofu, arrived with 35 balls to spare on the final day.

Having taken seven wickets in the final session, Taylor and his men celebrated wildly, the champagne flowed, the stumps were souvenired. After some long, hard toil, it was eighth-ranked New Zealand's first test victory since Bangladesh in Hamilton in February 2010.

At the presentation, Taylor looked like he needed oxygen. The alternative didn't bear thinking about, less than a month out from the first test against Australia in Brisbane.

"There were a few things that went my way. It was just a good test match. Being my first as captain, I'm not sure there would be many more nerve-racking starts to your test captaincy than that game," he said.

Taylor showed a willingness to take a punt, and made breakthroughs via part-timers Dean Brownlie and Martin Guptill. And he admitted he'd wanted to be even more generous on day four as they weighed up what target to set.

"We were actually going to declare a little bit earlier. Probably in hindsight it was lucky we went on longer."

The visiting dressing room would have been sombre at the tea interval. Zimbabwe were 265-3, with captain Brendan Taylor and former skipper Tatenda Taibu well set. Taylor had survived when BJ Watling claimed a catch but replays were inconclusive.

The hosts also contributed by going all out for victory. It cost them dearly, first over after tea, when Taylor flailed at Chris Martin and was well held by a diving Watling on the point boundary. A thorn in New Zealand's side throughout the series, Taylor's dismissal for 117 signalled a collapse of 7-66.

"Brendan showed you could bat on a fifth day wicket and when we got him out we started to believe we could go through them," Vettori said.

"There's obviously an expectation because I've played for so long. I realise that's part of the game; I've done it well sometimes and done it poorly other times."

Find of the tour Doug Bracewell provided the spark, taking 5-85 to become the seventh New Zealand bowler to take five in an innings on debut.

Focus now switches to Australia, and the fitness of Tim Southee (knee) and Jesse Ryder (calf). Both are hoped to be fit for December 1, meaning some straightforward selections. Bracewell and fellow debutant Brownlie will be certainties for Brisbane, with the injured duo to return for Patel and Watling.

- The Dominion Post