Captain Stephen Fleming became the first New Zealander to reach 6,000 Test runs while sharing a third-wicket stand of 137 with Lou Vincent on the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
The pair helped New Zealand reach 287 for four at tea, in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings of 231.
Fleming and Vincent cruised through a morning session before both fell within six overs after lunch.
Fleming played forward indecisively to a delivery from medium pacer Blessing Mahwire and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu, after hitting 13 fours in his 65 as he became the first New Zealander to reach 6000 Test runs.
Six overs later New Zealand were 205 for four when Vincent played across the line and was bowled by Heath Streak after an aggressive 92 that featured 14 fours and a six.
Nathan Astle was 38 not out and Scott Styris on 45 at tea in a steadying partnership worth 82 runs.
Streak seemed to have struck again when Styris, on three, edged a ball to Taibu only for umpire Darrell Hair to signal no-ball.
New Zealand resumed the morning session on 48 for two and Vincent and Fleming were in no trouble on a steadily flattening pitch against the mediocre Zimbabwean attack.
Zimbabwe's hopes of taking an early wicket rose briefly when Vincent twice sent head-high drives through the cover field off the bowling of Mahwire.
Fleming went into the match 15 runs shy of the milestone, which he passed with a classy on-drive off Streak in the ninth over of the day.
The New Zealand captain was fortunate not to be given out leg-before to Streak for 18 when he failed to move significantly forward against a delivery that pitched on his middle stump and held its line to strike the front pad.
Hair decided the ball would not have hit the stumps.
