New Zealand defeated Zimbabwe comprehensively by 10 wickets in their third Group A match at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad. New Zealand scored 166/0 after their bowlers had dismissed Zimbabwe for just 162 runs.
Zimbabwe chose to bat first after Elton Chigumbara won the toss. Charles Coventry (0) was the first batsman to go when he was run out without troubling the scorers. The Zimbabwe top-order failed to handle the New Zealand seamers and spinners alike, as four of their top six batsmen failed to reach the double figures. Only Brendan Taylor managed to bat with some confidence, scoring 44 runs off 57 balls. He hit four fours before falling leg before to Scott Styris (1/13).
Some useful lower order contributions from Greg Lamb (18), Prosper Utseya (36) and Graeme Cremer (22) took them to 162 runs. Utseya scored his 36 runs from 65 balls including three fours. The sixth wicket partnership of 40 runs between Taylor and Lamb was to be the highest of the innings.
For New Zealand, Tim Southee picked up 3/29 while Kyle Mills (2/29) and Daniel Vettori (2/25) picked up a couple of wickets in their 10 over spells.
Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill chased down the Zimbabwean score with 17 overs still left in the game. The duo put on 166-runs, the highest opening partnership for New Zealand in the World Cups.
McCullum blazed his way to an undefeated 76 runs that came from 95 balls and included six fours and two sixes. This is also McCullum’s highest score in the World Cups and only the second 50+ score in 20 World Cup matches. On the other hand, Guptill continued his good form with 86 runs that came from 108 balls and hit seven fours and two sixes, as the Kiwis almost confirmed their quarterfinal berth. Guptill was declared the man of the match for his unbeaten innings.
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