Daily Cricket News

New Zealand trounce miserable Zimbabwe

Ahmedabad: New Zealand displayed a clinically efficient all round performance to thump Zimbabwe by 10 wickets with more than 16 overs to spare in their crucial group league encounter of the World Cup at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera on Friday.

The Kiwis first bundled out Elton Chigumbura and Co. for a paltry 162 in 46. 2 overs on a good batting strip. It was a disciplined bowling effort by the Kiwis as Tim Southee (3/29), Kyle Mills (2/29) and skipper Daniel Vettori (2/25) shared the spoils.

New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum didn't have any difficulty in chasing down the target as they accomplished the job in only 33.3 overs.

Guptill struck seven fours and two sixes in his unbeaten knock of 86 off 108 deliveries while McCullum slammed two sixes and six fours as he stayed undefeated on 76 from 95 balls.

Guptill set the tone of the Black Caps chase hitting Tinashe Panyangara,for couple of boundaries and a straight six in the first over in which 14 runs came.

Runs came comfortably for the opening duo against the spin-heavy Zimbabwe attack which didn't have enough ability to defend a modest target.

Guptill raced to his half century in 68 deliveries with the help of three fours and two sixes before his senior partner followed suit to complete his individual half century in 74 balls, with three fours and a six in it.

Barring experienced opener Brendan Taylor, who top scored with 44 (57 balls, 4x4) and rearguard action from Prosper Utseya (36) and Graeme Cremer (22), the top-order batsmen put up an insipid show to leave Zimbabwe tottering at 89 for 7 after 27 overs on a strip that was good for batting.

Apart from Taylor, who was the sixth batsman to be dismissed, only Craig Irvine (11) got into double figures among the top six against a determined and efficient New Zealand. The Black Caps' bowling was backed up by some splendid fielding.

Former captain Utseya who made 36 in 65 balls with the help of 3 boundaries showed more gumption than their more accomplished frontline batsmen barring Taylor.

Zimbabweans added 40 runs for the last two wickets as New Zealand were left to score the runs at an asking rate of 3.26.