New Zealand crushed Zimbabwe by 202 runs

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New Zealand fans were treated to a spectacle as their side went on a rampage to demolish Zimbabwe by 202 runs in the final ODI.

Both New Zealand openers, Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill, reached their half centuries in no time at all, leading to a partnership of 153 runs.

New Zealand Captain, Brendon McCullum, said: “Martin and Rob played outstandingly as they have all series.”

However it was the Captain himself who stole the limelight as he drilled every Zimbabwe bowler around the park. He powered his way to 119 runs from 88 deliveries, which included seven boundaries and five huge sixes.

Captain McCullum gained the Man of the Match award and said: “It was nice to come in with a few runs on the board.”

With their fast start and big hitting, New Zealand were able to score 373 runs off their 50 overs, at a rate of almost seven and a half runs an over.

None of the Zimbabwean bowlers did particularly well, but Kyle Jarvis and Ray Price had two wickets each in an attempt to restrict the hosts.

Set with a mammoth target of 374 runs to win, the tourists had a disastrous batting display, the only bright spot coming from Captain Brendan Taylor, who made a well-played knock of 65 from 62 balls.

The New Zealand bowlers’ bowled in tandem as they struck regularly to limit Zimbabwe to a final score of 171, thus causing them to lose by 202 runs.

Zimbabwe Captain, Brendan Taylor, who was extremely disappointed said: “Congratulations to the New Zealand side who have outclassed us, we can learn a lot from them. There is a lot we can take out of the series even though things haven’t gone our way.”

With this victory New Zealand whitewashed Zimbabwe in the ODI series, winning 3-0. Zimbabwe still have a chance of redemption when they play New Zealand in the first of two Twenty20 Internationals at Auckland on the 11th of February.