Tom Latham has notched his second successive ton as New Zealand pulverised Zimbabwe on the first day of the second Test in Bulawayo.

The Black Caps finished at 2-329 with Latham posting 136 on a slow wicket.

Latham, who made 105 in the first Test, put on a 161-run opening partnership with teammate Martin Guptill, who scored 87 before being trapped lbw by Donald Tiripano.

The 24-year-old Latham’s century came from 190 balls and he looked comfortable at the crease until the penultimate delivery of the day, when he was caught and bowled.

Guptill said Latham was in red-hot form.

“He’s worked very hard over the last couple of years to cement that Test spot and he’s done very well,” Guptill told reporters.

Captain Kane Williamson, playing in his 50th Test, will resume his innings five runs short of a century as he tries to post a ton against each Test-playing nation.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers proved wayward, allowing the visitors to set up a consistent scoring rate and dominate proceedings.

Spinner Graeme Cremer took the most punishment, conceding 108 runs in his 25 overs on a pitch that failed to provide any turn.

Guptill said the slow pitch also made for hard work with the bat.

“It was pretty tough work out there when they bowled reasonably straight lines,” the 29-year-old said.

“(But) they couldn’t quite put enough pressure on us.”

New Zealand won the first Test at the same venue by an innings and 117 runs inside four days.

The series is being played over two matches and marks the first Test in almost two years for Zimbabwe.