2nd ODI, New Zealand vs Zimbabwe, Whangarei

On a fairly dead pitch in Whangarei New Zealand 372/6 (Nicol 146, Guptill 77, Oram 58, Latham 48) thrashed Zimbabwe 231/8 (Chigumbura 63, Taibu 50, Oram 3-29). l

Batting first New Zealand's openers were contained initially, restricted to 10 runs off the opening 5 overs before Guptill and Nicoll unleashed a 131 run opening stand. Jacob Oram was promoted to #3 from #8 and rolled back the years with a 28-ball 58. McCullum and Latham continued the carnage while Nicol accelerated after reaching his ton. In the face of increasingly wayward bowling and fielding 86 runs came off the last 5 overs.

In reply Zimbabwe's top order failed again, leaving the middle order to give up on the chase and get some batting practice, and they crept through to a 141 run loss.

ZIM appear to be going backwards again.

cricketfan90 wrote:ZIM appear to be going backwards again.

Indeed. Zim were always poor tourists, but the contrast with how well they competed at home last year is a little depressing.

They're not the first team to trip up on green seaming NZ pitches mind you - and NZ is having a cool damp summer.

yh but kiwi, the problem is that, if they cant compete anywhere else other than ZIM, then they have no chance do they..

cricketfan90 wrote:yh but kiwi, the problem is that, if they cant compete anywhere else other than ZIM, then they have no chance do they..

I know

I have a soft spot for the Zim team (which sometimes surprises me as Mugabe is top of the very short list of people I wouldn't throw a rope to if they were drowning) and want to see them do well.

i also have a soft spot for the ZIM team, i hope they make progress, because it will be good to see them back being compeitive as a test playing nation again.