New Zealand level series Sikandar Raza deals with a short delivery during Zimbabwe v New Zealand, 2nd ODI in Harare yesterday
Sikandar Raza deals with a short delivery during Zimbabwe v New Zealand, 2nd ODI in Harare yesterday

Sikandar Raza deals with a short delivery during Zimbabwe v New Zealand, 2nd ODI in Harare yesterday

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
NEW Zealand fought back to destroy Zimbabwe by 10 wickets at Harare Sports Club yesterday and level the three-match One Day International series on a day when a number of records fell by the wayside.

Zimbabwe will wonder for long why their skipper, Elton Chigumbura, elected to bat first after winning the toss on a wicket that provided assistance to the bowling team in the morning session.

But, in the afternoon, it turned flat and New Zealand made it all look easy.

Zimbabwe had won the first ODI by chasing a huge total, fully aware that it was easier to bat in the afternoon session at Harare Sports Club, but yesterday Chigumbura decided otherwise and it backfired terribly.

“The wicket was looking drier than the previous one so I thought it was a good decision to bat first as it would turn in the afternoon but it didn’t,” Chigumbura said in his defence

“We’re to blame as a team because between the first 10 to 20 overs we had lost about four wickets and that put us under pressure from there on.”

Sikandar Raza Butt felt the Zimbabwe attack also came short.

“We don’t have to blame the captain for the decision to bat first, it was a team decision that we took because of the conditions,” said Raza.

“The spinners, myself, (Graeme) Creamer and (Sean) Williams could’ve done better and we hope to bowl better in the next game.”

New Zealand overhauled their target with 46 balls to spare.

Raza smashed a century, off 95 deliveries, hitting five fours and four sixes for the highest score by any number seven.

It was his third ODI century.

His ninth wicket partnership with seamer Tinashe Panyangara (33), a career best score for the bowler, reaped 89 runs.

He batted through four partnerships having been also involved in what was Zimbabwe’s second best partnership of 60 with Sean Williams (run out on 26).

But the damage had been done at the top.

Hamilton Masakadza departed for a duck, having scored an 84 in the previous game, and by the end of the 18th over Zimbabwe had lost four more wickets for 68 runs.

The runs were not coming and the wickets were falling but Chamunorwa Chibhabha stood firm with his 42 off 44 deliveries.

Martin Guptill, with an unbeaten 116 off 138, and Tom Latham also unbeaten (110 off 116 seven fours and two sixes) powered the Black Caps to victory.

Scorecard

 

Toss Zimbabwe

New Zealand won by 10 wickets (with 46 balls remaining)

 

Zimbabwe

 

Masakadza c Latham b McClenaghan 0

Chibhabha st †Ronchi b Sodhi 42

Ervine b Elliott 2

Chakabva† lbw b Sodhi 2

Chigumbura* c Taylor b Elliott 5

Williams run out (Guptill) 26

Sikandar Raza not out 100

Cremer c McCullum b Sodhi 5

Utseya c †Ronchi b McCullum 0

Panyangara run out (Elliott/†Ronchi) 33

Extras (lb 1, w 8, nb 1) 10

Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 235

 

Did not bat: Mpofu

 

F-o-W: 1-3 (Masakadza, 3.2 ov), 2-42 (Ervine, 10.5 ov), 3-49 (Chakabva, 13.2 ov), 4-54 (Chigumbura, 14.5 ov), 5-68 (Chibhabha, 17.4 ov), 6-128 (Williams, 31.2 ov), 7-137 (Cremer, 35.3 ov), 8-146 (Utseya, 36.5 ov), 9-235 (Panyangara, 49.6 ov)

 

Bowling: Henry 8-2-45-0 (3w); McCullum 10-0-38-1 (2w); McClenaghan 10-1-55-1 (1nb, 3w); Elliott 6-0-27-2; Sodhi 10-0-38-3; Williamson 6-0-31-0

 

New Zealand innings

 

Guptill not out 116

Latham not out 110

Extra (lb 1, w 9) 10

Total (42.2 overs) 236

 

Did not bat: Williamson*, Taylor, Elliott, Munro, Ronchi†, McCullum, Henry, McClenaghan, Sodhi

 

Bowling: Mpofu 7-1-37-0; Panyangara 6-0-30-0; Williams 5.2-0-36-0 (1w); Cremer 10-0-60-0 (1w); Utseya 10-0-46-0 (1w); Sikandar Raza 2-0-17-0 (2w); Masakadza 2-0-9-0;.

 

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