Captain Mitch Santner took four wickets with his left-arm spin as the New Zealand completed a nine-wicket win on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe managed to avoid an innings defeat but the Black Caps needed only eight runs to win.

Devon Conway hit a four but then edged a ball from Newman Nyamhuri into his stumps before Henry Nicholls hit the winning boundary in Nyamhuri’s next over.

Santner took 4-27 as Zimbabwe, needing 158 to avoid an innings defeat, were bowled out for 165.

Zimbabwe resumed on 31-2 and quickly lost overnight batsmen Nick Welch and nightwatchman Vincent Masekesa to fast bowler Will O’Rourke.

Veteran left-handers Sean Williams (49) and Craig Ervine (22) shared a fifth-wicket stand of 57 but were dismissed in successive overs by Santner and Matt Henry shortly before lunch.

Sikandar Raza and Newman Nyamburi fell soon after the interval but wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga (27) and fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani (19) put on 36 for the ninth wicket before Santner dismissed both batsmen.

New Zealand were hampered by the absence of pace bowlers Nathan Smith, who suffered an abdominal injury while batting on Thursday, and O’Rourke, who was feeling stiffness after his morning spell.

The teams meet again in the second Test at the same venue from Thursday.

The two-match series is not part of the World Test Championship.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images