Ervine celebrates after scoring his maiden ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Zimbabwe batsman Craig Ervine struck a career-best 130 not out to lead his side to a convincing seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the first ODI in Harare.
Ervine was well supported by opening batsman Hamilton Masakadza, who scored 84.
However, New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor deserves a lot of credit his valiant knock of 112 not out, while captain Kane Williamson made 97.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura would have been pleased with his decision to bowl first as Martin Guptill and Tom Latham were dismissed early on.
However, Williamson and Taylor took over from that point as they amassed a 137-run partnership, during which Williamson surpassed his half-century, before he was clean bowled by Tinashe Panyangara for 97 off 102 balls, which included 11 boundaries and a six.
Williamson fell three agonising runs short of his eighth ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Taylor and Grant Elliott kept the runs flowing with a 79-run stand, during which Taylor brought up his half-century, before Elliott was run out by Sean Williams for a quickfire 43.
Taylor ended up making an unbeaten 112, which came off 122 deliveries and included six boundaries and three sixes, to help New Zealand finish on 303/4 off their 50 overs.
Taylor’s 15th ODI century went in vain
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Panyangara was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Chamu Chibhabha chipped in with one.
Chasing 304 to win, Zimbabwe got off to an excellent start as Chibhabha and Masakadza put together a 74-run partnership before Chibhabha was clean bowled by Nathan McCullum for 42.
Masakadza and Ervine continued to make New Zealand suffer as they mustered a 120-run stand, during which both batsmen registered their half-centuries, before Masakadza was caught behind off the bowling of McCullum.
Masakadza’s fantastic knock of 84 came off 99 balls and included 10 boundaries.
Masakadza hit 10 boundaries during his knock of 84
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Zimbabwe’s dominance with the bat continued as Ervine and Chigumbura accumulated a 66-run partnership before Chigumbura was caught by Guptill at long-on off the bowling of McCullum for 26.
Ervine kept his cool throughout his innings and eventually carried Zimbabwe over the finish line with one over to spare.
The 29-year-old, who scored his maiden ODI century in the process, finished on a career-best 130 off 108 balls, which included 11 boundaries and five sixes.
McCullum was the only New Zealand bowler to take any wickets.
Williamson was at a loss of words to explain what had happened, and said: “I thought 303 was enough. It wasn’t easy up front and I thought it was a good effort. They outplayed us in all areas though, full credit to them. We weren’t at our best either. It isn’t a train wreck and we weren’t far off, maybe struggled a bit with the ball.”
Chigumbura was ecstatic to have won the match, and said: “It has been a hard road for us, and it shows we are capable of winning games. It was a good wicket and our opening partnership showed the way.”
Ervine was named Man of the Match, and said: “It feels very good, especially to be there at the end. The pitch tended to misbehave a bit against India, but it was good today. I took it ball by ball and didn’t think too much about it.”