New Zealand continue winning streak at Auckland – Cricket News Update
New Zealand thumped Zimbabwe in the first T20 match, courtesy another sublime unbeaten knock by in-form opener Martin Guptill, cruising to a seven-wicket win at Eden Park, Auckland, on February 11, 2012.
The visitors won the toss, and elected to bat. The innings got off to a shaky start, with two wickets falling in quick succession. Captain Brendan Taylor, who played a valiant innings in the last ODI, was among the early victim, dismissed by Michael Bates
at 3.
However, Hamilton Masakadza managed to steady the score with a brisk half-century, and established a successful 3rd wicket partnership with Tatenda Taibu, which yielded 62 runs.
Despite the below average performance of the middle-order, the Rhodesians managed to run up a healthy score of 159, their first fighting total in the series.
The Kiwi bowlers launched an effective attack, with Michael Bates taking 3 scalps, followed by Kyle Mills (2), along with Nathan McCullum, Ronnie Hira, and Kane Williamson earning a wicket apiece.
The day belonged to Martin Guptill, who continued his impressive scoring streak against the opponents, dismantling the new ball bowlers, and prompting Taylor to introduce spin as early as the fifth over. However, it did little to affect his flow, as he finished
off the innings earning his fifth consecutive half-century in the current series, as well as his third Twenty20 fifty.
His opening partner, Rob Nicol, was unable to shine in the T20, despite his impressive past performances in the ODI series, scoring a mere 12 runs. Captain Brendon McCullum also failed to deliver, and departed without opening his account.
However, Kane Williamson managed a substantial 48, and established a winning partnership with Guptill, contributing 137 runs to the final total of 160, which was easily accomplished with more than three overs left.
Kyle Jarvis remained the only bowler who managed to amass two wickets. The rest of Zimbabwe’s bowlers put on a poor show, which included lackluster performances by Kyle Meth and Ray Price (both 0/34), Shingi Masakadza (0/26), Elton Chigumbura (0/16), and
Prosper Utseya (0/18).
Guptill was declared Player of the Match, for his outstanding knock. Zimbabwe remain winless in the series, and have their last chance to salvage a victory as they battle it out in the last T20I against New Zealand on February 14, at Hamilton.