New Zealand vs Zimbabwe – 1st ODI – Match Update – NZ ease to a 90-run victory
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 in the 1st ODI, winning the game by an easy 90-run margin as the tourists slumped to 158 in reply to 248 at the University Oval, Dunedin, February 3, 2012.
The tourists offered brief resilience through skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BRM-Taylor-c1200, who made an impressive half-century, before submitting easily in 41.1 overs to maintain their meager showings Down Under intact.
After the bowlers managed to restrict the hosts on an average outing, the tie now rested on Zimbabwean batters, and their ability to overcome the horror show of the Napier Test where they were bowled out twice inside one day.
Again they hesitated to sustain any sort of aggression; with another poor start saw them losing three wickets in the initial exchanges. The conditions offered movement to both camps and despite the Rhodesian’s putting the hosts in a similar situation, while
on the field, they failed to pounce on the early momentum.
However, the Kiwi bowlers got down to business immediately and despite Taylor offering considerable resistance, the other end saw wickets tumbling.
The skipper had gained valuable knowledge of the conditions through his stint in the HRV Cup (NZ domestic competition) and he remained content on playing aggressively, bringing up a shrewd half-century.
His 68-ball 58 included 8 fours and one maximum heave off spinner, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RJ-Nicol-c2331, but his departure left his side in trouble at 97 for 5 – a position from where they never really recovered.
After taking out http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915, Nicol went onto to claim three more,as the chase totally fell off the track. Raymond Price (26*) remained the second highest run getter for the visitors while coming in at no.11 as the Black Caps rounded off another emphatic victory.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980 was awarded the Player of the Match for a well made 70. Earlier, it was his half-century, which paved for a healthy score after a poor start saw them lose two wickets in two overs.
While the inexperienced in the middle-order had them reeling in the mid stages, but their opponent’s failure to grab the initiative saw the later order chipping in with important runs - helping the team to set 249 to win.
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