New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 7 runs on D/L system
Zimbabwe mowed down defending champions Pakistan and reigning 50 over World Champions Australia in their warm-up games but could not reproduce that form in their two games that counted in the 2010 ICC 20/20 World Cup to leave the 12-team tournament after the first round.
Yesterday at Providence their batting never fired as they slipped from 58-1 in 7 overs to 84 all out in 15.2 before rain ended the contest with New Zealand on 30-1 in 8.1 overs to quality for the next round in Barbados with a 7-run win on the Duckworth/Lewis system.
With the excellent drainage at Guyana’s newest Cricket venue ensured the outfield remained in great condition even after torrential overnight and morning rain, persistent showers during the match halted the day’s first game at 11:22hrs at which point New Zealand were ahead of the 30-1 they required to win.
Tatenda Taibu (21) and Hamilton Masakadza (20) provided the African side with hopes of an upset by posting 36 for the first wicket in 5 overs before Taibu pulled Tim Southee to square-leg and Masakadza ran himself out, attempting a casual 2nd to deep square-leg at 58-2.
A series of impetuous shots then resulted in a dramatic collapse as only Greg Lamb (14*) of the other batsmen got into double figures.
Off-spinner Nathan McCullum (3-16), medium pacer Scott Styris (2-5) and skipper and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori (2-10) did the damage for New Zealand who should play South Africa in their opening Super Eight game on Thursday afternoon at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Scores: New Zealand 36 for 1 beat Zimbabwe 84 (McCullum 3-16, Styris 3-5) by seven runs by D/L method. (Sean Devers)
