Needing 101 runs to win at the start of the session, the hosts continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, but never stopped fighting.
However, the twin attack of Bracewell and Vettori was too much, as the former snagged five wickets and Vettori finished off with 3/71.
At tea, Taylor was on 117 and Taibu had 54, for an unbeaten 108-run partnership that could ensure victory for the hosts.
Earlier, Taylor was on 73 not out from just 81 deliveries when Zimbabwe went to lunch on 169 for three — still needing 197 runs to record what would be a famous victory.
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Opener Tino Mawoyo was the only wicket to fall in the first session, with part-timer Martin Guptill’s delivery deflecting off the thigh pad and onto the stumps.
Mawoyo’s 52 had contributed to a 96-run partnership with Taylor over the first hour and a half of the day, with Mawoyo doing his best to stonewall the New Zealand bowlers while Taylor went after them at the other end.
Taylor hit four sixes and five fours in the morning session as he often came down the wicket to cart offspinner Jeetan Patel over cow corner.
He was joined after Mawoyo’s departure by former captain Tatenda Taibu, who went to lunch on five not out.
Zimbabwe began the day on 61 for two in the face of a stiff target of 366, which was set by New Zealand when they declared their second innings on 252 for eight midway through the third session of day four.—Supersport
