Tuesday, February 14, 2012

New Zealand win T20 as Zimbabwe end tour winless

New Zealand secured a five wicket victory over Zimbabwe in dramatic
Zimbabwe Brendan Taylor and Elton Chigumburathe final Twenty20 international Tuesday to condemn the visitors to tour without a victory.

Kane Williamson (20) scored 14 runs in the final to seal the victory with just two balls to spare and a half centuries after the openers James Franklin (60) and Rob Nicol (56).

The result capped a dismal tour to Zimbabwe, which was competitive in both games, but were overtaken by the T20 New Zealand in a one-off Test and three one-day international.

Tourists saved his best performance for the final game, choosing to bat after winning the toss and scoring 200 for two, your best T20 score ever in Seddon Park Hamilton. Determined to finally break the shackles opener Hamilton Masakadza (62) and captain Brendan Taylor (75) anchored the innings, but fell slightly below after Williamson, in only his third international T20, Black Caps headed home.

"Obviously it is bitterly disappointing, but I think our boys can hold our heads high," said Taylor. "If we get this kind of total that will be much more competitive in the future."

Taylor said he was glad not to lose wickets as the 1st Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri partnered opening 76-run, the first tourists openers achieved an over 50 races throughout the tour.

Zimbabwe's bowlers also produced a much better performance with Kyle Jarvis taking two wickets in two balls in the penultimate and more Elton Chingumbura ending with figures of two for 23.

In contrast, Michael Bates and Ronnie Hira was the only wicket takers for New Zealand, but both proved costly, with Bates leaking 47 runs off four overs and 31 going to Hira out of three.

New Zealand's batting proved too strong as a makeshift opener Franklin, promoted in the following order form Martin Guptill was spared, produced a man-of-view game.
New Zealand run chase started tentatively, with seven overs to bring up to 50.

But the Black Caps then quickened the pace and plundered 49 runs from three overs before the next Chigumbura Nicol dismissed for 56 with his first ball to break the 103-run partnership.

Franklin was growing in confidence and looking menacing before falling to a superb run from Keegan Meth, who hit the stumps from side of the border as the striker scrambled for a second round.

Chigumbura delayed pulse of New Zealand even more when he skittled of Colin Grandhomme for eight, leaving the home team needing 41 off 20 balls.

The tourists looked set to win an upset when Jarvis dismissed New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and his brother Nathan to bring rookie Andrew Ellis to the crease with the end of the loom.

But Williamson assured the strike and hit a four off the second ball just Shingi Masakadza, followed with a victory, then securing with six other limit.
New Zealand will face a tough challenge against the South African tour this week, with the first T20 scheduled for Wellington on Friday.

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