New Zealand v Zimbabwe – 1st One Day International - Match Recap
Zimbabwe 231 v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 232 -
New Zealand won by 9 wickets (with 39 balls remaining)
New Zealand beat hosts Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the first One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at Harare Sports Club.
After restricting the hosts on 231 runs, New Zealand reached the required target in 43.3 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Earlier after winning the toss, Zimbabwe chose to bat first to put enough runs on the board.
However, New Zealand’s 21-year-old medium pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Doug-Bracewell-c1394 wrecked havoc on the Zimbabwean top-order as he grabbed three wickets early in the innings to reduce the Zimbabwean batting line-up to rubble.
Opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BB-McCullum-c1129 in the fourth over after just five runs off 13 deliveries.
Next to go was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/H-Masakadza-c1517, who had his stumps shattered by the Kiwi bowler in the sixth over. The batsman found his way back to the pavilion without scoring a run.
When the Zimbabwean score was just 12 runs, they suffered the loss of their third wicket when opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CJ-Chibhabha-c1263 became Bracewell’s third victim as he was also caught by McCullum behind stumps.
With three wickets down for only 12 runs on the board, it was certainly a difficult time for the hosts as they needed someone to stay on the wicket to post a respectable total on the board.
It was then upon http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BRM-Taylor-c1200 to take the lead and craft a resilient stand against the belligerent New Zealand bowling that was running wild.
The captain alongside fellow batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/F-Mutizwa-c1426 formed a much needed resistance against the opposition as the duo clobbered an amazing fifth-wicket partnership of 156 runs to subdue the Kiwis.
The two batsmen exhibited tremendous character by playing sensationally well against a bowling brigade that kept bolting deliveries right at them without remorse.
Mutizwa then departed on the penultimate delivery of the 42nd over after hammering a knock of 69 runs. He was also grabbed by McCullum who had a busy day behind the stumps.
Meanwhile, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 smashed an astounding knock of 128 runs as he stayed unbeaten to help the side post a formidable total on the board.
Coming out to bat, New Zealand had a total they never expected, however, with their batting line-up they knew they had a comfortable chance of winning the game.
New Zealand’s opening batsmen http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980 batted splendidly well against the opposition as they posted 153 runs in the opening partnership, literally taking the game away from the hosts.
From New Zealand, Nicol played a resounding knock of 108 runs as the Kiwis reached the required target for the loss of only one wicket.
Nicol was named as the Player of the Match for his magnificent knock with the bat.
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