New Zealand thrash Zimbabwe by 10 wickets

HARARE: Openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham both struck centuries as New Zealand crushed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the second One-day International (ODI) on Tuesday to set up a series decider.
Chasing 236 to level the three-match series at Harare Sports Club, Guptill finished unbeaten on 116 while Latham was 110 not out as New Zealand achieved the target with almost eight overs to spare.
The pair set a new record for the highest successful chase in an ODI without losing a wicket, bettering the 231 that Sri Lanka managed in a 10-wicket win over England in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final, as they ensured that New Zealand bounced back from Sunday’s shock seven-wicket defeat, in convincing fashion.
Zimbabwe were left to wonder whether they had made the right call at the toss, when Elton Chigumbura went against conventional wisdom and elected to bat first.
The decision backfired when the hosts crumbled in the face of some aggressive New Zealand bowling, losing their top five inside the first 18 overs.
While Grant Elliott used the swing on offer to dismiss Craig Ervine and Chigumbura, legspinner Ish Sodhi picked up his first wickets in ODI cricket on his way to figures of 3 for 38.
Zimbabwe were grateful to Sikandar Raza Butt for hauling them to a vaguely respectable score, with his 100 not out rescuing the home side from 68 for five and then 146 for eight.
He rebuilt the innings with a 60-run stand for the sixth wicket with Sean Williams, and an 89-run stand for the ninth wicket with Tinashe Panyangara (33).
Zimbabwe needed early wickets if they were going to challenge, but the seamers lacked control up front and Guptill and Latham were allowed to settle.
Score Board
Zimbabwe won toss
Zimbabwe
H Masakadza c Latham b McClenaghan 0
C J Chibhabha st Ronchi b Sodhi 42
C R Ervine b Elliott 12
†R W Chakabva lbw b Sodhi 2
*E Chigumbura c Taylor b Elliott 5
S C Williams run out 64
Sikandar Raza not out 100
A G Cremer c McCullum b Sodhi 5
P Utseya c Ronchi b McCullum 0
T Panyangara run out 33
Extras (lb 1, w 8, nb 1) 10
Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 235
Did not bat: C B Mpofu
Fall: 1-3, 2-42, 3-49, 4-54, 5-68, 6-128, 7-137, 8-146, 9-235
Bowling: Henry 8-2-45-0 (3w); McCullum 10-0-38-1 (2w); McClenaghan 10-1-55-1 (1nb, 3w); Elliott 6-0-27-2; Sodhi 10-0-38-3; Williamson 6-0-31-0
New Zealand
M J Guptill not out 116
T W M Latham not out 110
Extras (lb 1, w 9) 10
Total (0 wickets; 42.2 overs) 236
Did not bat: *K S Williamson, L R P L Taylor, G D Elliott, C Munro, †L Ronchi, N L McCullum, M J Henry, M J McClenaghan, I S Sodhi
Bowling: Mpofu 7-1-37-0; Panyangara 6-0-30-0; Williams 5.2-0-36-0 (1w); Cremer 10-0-60-0 (1w); Utseya 10-0-46-0 (1w); Sikandar 2-0-17-0 (2w); Masakadza 2-0-9-0
Result: New Zealand won by 10 wickets
Series: 3-match series levelled by 1-1
Men of the Match: M J Guptill (New Zealand) and T W M Latham (New Zealand)
Umpires: R K Illingworth (England) and T J Matibiri. TV umpire: L Rusere. Match referee: D C Boon (Australia)