2nd T20: New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets

Hamilton: New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by five wickets in the second Twenty20 international on Tuesday, completing the largest successful run chase in its history with two balls to spare to take the series 2-0.

Captain Brendan Taylor, with an unbeaten 75, led Zimbabwe to 200-2 batting first — its highest score in a Twenty20 — and New Zealand rode highs and lows before sneaking to victory from the fourth ball of the final over.

The win left New Zealand unbeaten in all forms of the game in the series against Zimbabwe. It won the one-off Test by an innings and 301 runs, swept the three one-day internationals and took the opening Twenty20 by seven wickets.

"Zimbabwe played how we thought they would at some point on the tour," captain Brendon McCullum said. "They played well, put us under pressure and we didn't respond well which is something we'll have to look at. Now we move on to South Africa pretty pleased with where we're at."

New Zealand now faces South Africa in three Tests, three one-day and three Twenty20 internationals. The first Twenty20 is at Wellington on Friday.

Zimbabwe turned in the most competitive performance of its tour in its final match, taking advantage of an outstanding start provided by Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri who put on 76 for the first wicket from 42 balls.

Masakadza reached a half century from 26 balls, the fastest by a Zimbabwe player in Twenty20s, and went on to make 62 from 42 balls in an innings which set up Zimbabwe for a substantial total. Matsikenyeri made 32 from 19 balls and the openers set the tone for the innings and the match, smashing seven sixes and five fours.

Masakadza hit the first six of the innings in the third over, planting a long hop from Kyle Mills onto the roof of the grandstand at Seddon Park. Matsikenyeri followed suit, hitting two sixes from the fourth over of the innings bowled by Michael Bates. The first, down the ground, struck the sight screen on the full.

In that mood, the openers guided Zimbabwe to 40 without loss after four overs and to 65 after six. Matsikenyeri was first out, in the seventh over, but Masakadza kept the runs flowing in partnership with Taylor, taking Zimbabwe to 98-1 after 10 overs.

He was out when Zimbabwe was 121-2 in the 14th over and Taylor then steered the innings with his unbeaten 75 — the second-highest total by a Zimbabwe batsmen in Twenty20s. He reached his half century from 31 balls with four fours and three sixes and took Zimbabwe to 200 for the first time in its Twenty20 history from the last ball of the final over.

New Zealand promoted allrounder James Franklin to open the innings with Rob Nicol in the absence of Martin Guptill, who was rested after scoring half centuries in his five previous innings against the tourists.

Franklin looked out of form early on and Nicol set the pace of the innings, lifting New Zealand to 46 without loss after five overs. But Franklin hit successive sixes off Shingirai Masakadza in the eighth over to gain some confidence and went on to post a century partnership with Nicol from 58 balls.

New Zealand's scoring rate slowly lifted to match Zimbabwe's. It was 103 without loss after 10 overs and 148-2 after 15, needing 53 to win from 30 balls. Nicol made 56 from 37 balls and Franklin 60 from the same number of deliveries to give New Zealand a solid platform.

Brendon McCullum then made 38 from 24 balls to keep New Zealand on target. But Kyle Jarvis put Zimbabwe back in the match when he removed McCullum and his brother Nathan with successive deliveries in the 19th over, leaving New Zealand 187-5 and needing 14 to win off the last over.

Andrew Ellis, in his Twenty20 debut, took a single from the first ball and Kane Williamson then hit four, six and four to carry New Zealand to its winning total and to finish 20 not out from only five deliveries.

NZ beat Zim by 202 runs to sweep ODI series

Napier: Captain Brendon McCullum hit a commanding century as New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 202 runs in the third one-day international on Thursday, sweeping the three-match series.

McCullum's 119 was his fourth one-day international century and came after a 153-run opening partnership between Martin Guptill and Rob Nicol that propelled New Zealand to 373-8 - their third-highest total in one-day internationals.

Kane Williamson, Nathan McCullum and Tarun Nethula then shared six wickets as New Zealand bowled out Zimbabwe for 171 in 44 overs. Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor top-scored with 65 from 68 balls.

Zimbabwe's chances of challenging New Zealand's giant total all but disappeared when openers Tinotenda Mawoyo and Stuart Matsikenyeri fell with the total at 14. Taylor and wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu (26) put on 77 for the third wicket but when Taibu departed in the 21st over Zimbabwe was on a pedestrian 81-3 and the game was effectively over.

Williamson took 2-13 from three overs, Nathan McCullum 2-21 from three and leg-spinner Nethula 2-41 from 10.

Nethula bowled an outstanding spell, dropping onto a perfect line and length and challenging all batsmen with flight and turn. When he made his debut in the previous match at Whangarei he was the first leg-spinner to play a one-day international for New Zealand in 10 years.

Fast bowler Michael Bates, who was the most recent of six players to make their New Zealand debuts in the series, took 1-24 from eight overs.

Earlier, McCullum built on the foundation laid by Guptill (85 from 69 balls) and Nicol (61 from 63), who shared their second-straight century partnership and their third in one-day internationals.

The skipper reached his century from 79 balls and took his 119 runs from 88 balls before falling to the last ball of the innings.

"It was nice to come in with a few overs to go and to be able to build a good innings," McCullum said. "The way both Martin and Rob batted was great and they've been magnificent for us all series."

Both openers capitalized on reprieves. Nicol was judged lbw to Brian Vitori but the decision was overturned on replay and Guptill was dropped off Vitori's bowling when he was on 4 and New Zealand was 17-0.

The openers fully capitalized on the let-offs. Guptill reached his half century from 38 balls and the pair raised their century partnership in the 15th over before falling to successive deliveries.

Nicol was trapped lbw by off-spinner Prosper Utseya with the last ball of the 22nd over and Guptill was bizarrely stumped off a leg-side wide bowled by left-armer Ray Price with the first ball of the 23rd.

The ball lodged in the crook of wicketkeeper Tatendu Taibu's arm. Guptill did not see it there, and stepped out of his crease as if to take a single. Taibu retrieved the ball and whipped off the bails as Guptill desperately tried to retrieve his ground, doing the splits and ending up spread-eagled on the ground.

McCullum then took charge, hitting seven fours and five sixes in a relatively restrained innings which still punished Zimbabwe for some wayward bowling. Vitori (1-105) was particularly expensive, continually bowling full tosses on a ground famous for its short square boundaries.

McCullum was not overly aggressive early, but picked up the pace, htting his second half century from only 27 balls as New Zealand accelerated its run rate. He reached his hundred in the 48th over, from 107 balls and with five fours and four sixes.

New Zealand won the first match by 90 runs and the second by 141 runs.

New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 141 runs

Whangarei: Rob Nicol scored 146 runs and veteran allrounder Jacob Oram added three wickets to a dashing half century as New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 141 runs in the second ODI on Monday.

Nicol brought up his second century from only five one-day international appearances and the fifth-highest innings by a New Zealander in 50-overs matches, batting until the 49th over to anchor New Zealand's innings of 372-6.

The total was New Zealand's third-highest in one-day internationals after its 402-2 against Ireland in 2008 and 397-5 against Zimbabwe in 2005.

Oram chipped in 59 from 28 balls, batting at his highest position in the New Zealand order in 10 years, then took 3-29 as Zimbabwe was held to 231-8 in reply.

New Zealand now leads the three-match series 2-0.

"It was a much improved performance on what we put out in the first match (which New Zealand won by 90 runs)," captain Brendon McCullum said.

"To score 370 was always going to be a big ask for Zimbabwe and the boys bowled very well at the start of the innings, which was pleasing."

Zimbabwe had little chance of matching New Zealand's total when Kyle Mills and Tim Southee shared three wickets to knock the tourists' top order. Southee removed Hamilton Masakadza and Mills dismissed Stuart Matsikenyeri and captain Brendan Taylor to leave Zimbabwe 17-3 in the seventh over.

Elton Chigumbura made 63 from 69 balls and wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu 50 from 76 balls in an 80-run, sixth wicket partnership which added some solidity to the Zimbabwe total. Shingirai Masakadza's 38 and Prosper Utseya's 27 not out ensured Zimbabwe batted through its 50 overs.

New Zealand's massive total was always unreachable. Nicol provided the framework around which the innings was built, batting for 199 minutes, facing 134 balls and hitting 10 fours and two sixes.

He was happy at first to be the foil for his opening partner Martin Guptill, who scored 77 of their first wicket partnership of 131, and for Oram, with whom he put on 77 for the second wicket, of which Oram scored 59.

But he then became the driver of the innings, forcing the run-rate, particularly in a 101-run partnership for the sixth wicket with 19-year-old Tom Latham who scored 48 from 28 balls. The pair helped New Zealand put on 86 in the last five overs.

Their scoring was helped by some wayward bowling by Zimbabwe and poor fielding which saw the tourists drop five catches.

"It's very disappointing but we were beaten again by a much better team," Zimbabwe captain Taylor said. "I just hope that my guys had the chance to watch how the Black Caps go about their business and try to replicate that, not so much in the skill department, but in their approach and their body language."

The start of Monday's match was delayed by 35 minutes by rain but no overs were lost and Nicol and Guptill made a circumspect beginning as they studied the pace of the pitch at Cobham Oval which was hosting a one-day international for the first time.

Guptill fell to the left-armer Ray Price in the 24th over when he was 77 and New Zealand was 131, giving the veteran of 101 matches his first one-day international wicket against New Zealand.

New Zealand then promoted Oram in the order, to bat at No. 3 for the first time in more than a decade and to take advantage of a batting powerplay while Zimbabwe's spinners were operating.

The tactic paid off handsomely as Oram smashed five fours and three sixes on his way to a half century from 23 balls. New Zealand took 44 runs from the powerplay, of which Oram scored 34.

The innings then belonged to Nicol who compiled the fifth highest total by a New Zealander in a one-day international after Lou Vincent's 172, Glenn Turner's 171, Brendon McCullum's 166 and James Marshall's 161.

New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 90 runs

Dunedin: Allrounder Rob Nicol took four wickets as New Zealand bowled out Zimbabwe for 158 on Friday to win the first of three one-day internationals by 90 runs.

Nicol atoned for his duck when opening New Zealand's innings by putting in an outstanding bowling performance which helped the hosts skittle Zimbabwe in 41.1 overs at University Oval.

Nicol's opening partner Martin Guptill anchored the New Zealand innings with his knock of 70 and the allrounder's apparently innocuous off-spin bowling helped to destabilize Zimbabwe's reply. Veteran paceman Kyle Mills had earlier removed the top of the Zimbabwe lineup and finished with three wickets.

Captain Brendan Taylor top-scored for Zimbabwe with 58 from 68 balls and put on 52 for its fourth wicket with wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu (20). But the pair were the best hope of the Zimbabwe innings and when they were out — Taibu with the total at 67, Taylor at 97 — the innings steadily dwindled.

A partnership of 34 for the ninth wicket between the veteran Ray Price — playing his 100th one-day international — and Keegan Meth added 34 but that was the last show of defiance from Zimbabwe.

Price finished 26 not out while Nicol took 4-19 from 4.1 overs and Mills 3-26 from eight overs.

Mills dismissed Stuart Matsikenyeri with the last ball of the opening over and, after Matsikenyeri's opening partner Hamilton Masakadza was run out for 7, he then removed Regis Chakabva to leave Zimbabwe 15-3 in the seventh over.

Taylor and Taibu gave the total some substance, occupying the crease for more than 13 overs. But, when Taibu was out in the 20th over, the visitors' progress was too slow to really threaten New Zealand. At the midpoint of its innings, Zimbabwe was 91-4 and already New Zealand's moderate total seemed unreachable.

Nicol removed Taylor, Malcolm Waller for 12, Meth for 10 and Kyle Jarvis for two to achieve his best international bowling figures.

Earlier, Shingirai Masakadza took 4-46 in a display of controlled medium pace bowling as Zimbabwe held to New Zealand to what seemed an attainable total after winning the toss and electing to bowl.

Masakadza toiled into a strong wind for 9.3 overs as Zimbabwe bowled out New Zealand in the 49th over of its innings on a greenish pitch.

New Zealand lost its first two wickets for four runs in the first eight balls of the innings. But Guptill's innings of 70 and his 88-run partnership with Kyle Williamson lifted New Zealand to 92-3 and gave its innings a foundation.

Elton Chigumbura captured the wickets of Guptill and debutant Tom Latham (24) and Masakadza rolled through the middle order to leave Zimbabwe a competitive target.

Mixing a well-disguised slower ball with deliveries that sometimes surprised the batsmen with pace and bounce, Masakadza helped Zimbabwe put the brakes on New Zealand's scoring after Guptill's dominant innings.

Guptill had reached his half century — his 13th in one-day internationals — in 82 minutes from only 44 balls with seven fours. He played some outstanding shots down the ground as he re-established New Zealand's innings after the loss of Nicol to the fifth ball of the innings and captain Brendon McCullum (3) to the eighth.

New Zealand fielded three players on debut Friday and all made contributions. Latham, the son of former Test opener Rod Latham, made 24 from 33 balls, allrounder Andy Ellis made 33 from 30 balls, then took one for 34, and Test batsman Dean Brownlie was run out for 19 in his first one-day international.

NZ progress to 331/5 at stumps on Day 1

Napier: Captain Ross Taylor struck his sixth Test century as New Zealand moved in fits and starts to 331-5 after being sent into bat on Thursday's first day of its one-off Test against Zimbabwe.

Taylor was 111 not out at stumps, helping New Zealand build solidly on the 124-run opening partnership between Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill.

McCullum made 83, Guptill 51 and former captain Daniel Vettori a valuable 38 as New Zealand prospered despite losing what was thought to be an important toss.

"It wasn't a bad day, especially being sent in on what was being talked about as a pretty good pitch to bowl on," McCullum said.

"To have got through the day and to have a player on 111 not out at stumps made a good day for us. The pitch showed a bit and our attack may be a bit more potent than their's was in days to come."

More grass than usual was left on the pitch at McLean Park and it was expected to assist the quicker bowlers, prompting New Zealand to name a four-pronged pace attack.

Zimbabwe was more conservative and named an attack based around the 22-year-old quick Kyle Jarvis, his opening partner Brian Vitori and the brothers Shingirai and Hamilton Masakadza. Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer was named in place of veteran left-arm spinner Ray Price, who has a groin injury.

Jarvis was the best of the Zimbabwe bowlers, bowling an exacting line throughout the day and finishing with McCullum's wicket at a cost of 56 runs from 22 overs. He twice beat the outside edge of McCullum's bat in the first over of the day and referred his appeal for lbw against McCullum to the television umpire in the fifth over when he was 16 not out.

McCullum survived and went on to reach his half century in 128 minutes from 86 balls, seeing New Zealand to lunch without the loss of a wicket — a rarity for any side sent in to bat.

Guptill went on to his seventh half century in Tests in 144 minutes off 99 balls but was out shortly after when he edged a rearing delivery from Shingirai Matakadza to wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu.

The century opening partnership was the first three-figure opening partnership in a New Zealand first innings for eight years and 55 matches, since Stephen Fleming and Mark Richardson achieved the mark against England at Nottingham in 2004.

After Guptill's departure, New Zealand quickly lost Kane Williamson (7) to a run-out to slip to 131-2.

McCullum re-established the innings in a 64-run partnership with Taylor but, when he was out early in the final session, the hosts also soon lost Dean Brownlie caught behind for a duck for no score and was 196-4.

Vettori then restored the upper hand to the New Zealand batsmen with his bright innings of 38. He rushed to 21 from only 13 balls with four fours and took away the brief advantage the Zimbabwe bowlers had enjoyed.

He was out stumped off Cremer but Taylor saw New Zealand to stumps without further loss, adding 53 in an unbroken partnership with B.J. Watling who was 15 not out at stumps.