Openers power Black Caps to victory

04 August 2015 02:47

Martin Guptill and Tom Latham blasted New Zealand's second-best one-day international opening stand of all time in a convincing 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe.

Guptill passed 4,000 runs with his eighth ODI century, while Latham registered his maiden triple-figure score in the format in an unbroken 236-run partnership.

New Zealand's opening pair carried the Black Caps to victory without losing a wicket and with nearly eight overs to spare in Harare, to level the three-match series at one win apiece.

Guptill's 116 and Latham's 110 ensured Friday's third and final clash now becomes the series decider.

Zimbabwe pulled off a superlative run chase in the opening clash of the series, racking up 304 for a seven-wicket victory with an over to spare.

When the teams met again however, the hosts were unable to repeat anything like that level of performance and tenacity a nd Sikandar Raza's timely century proved the only barrier between Zimbabwe and a hammering of almighty proportions.

Raza came to the crease with Zimbabwe 68 for five, Chamu Chibhabha departing for 42 having posted the only score of substance from the hosts' top order.

The 24-year-old not only stopped the rot, he produced Zimbabwe's top score in one-day internationals from number seven or lower.

Blasting exactly 100 from 95 balls, he remained at the crease for the rest of the innings, number 10 Tinashe Panyangara offering fine support in his own knock of 33.

The pair's 89-run partnership proved Zimbabwe's best-ever ninth-wicket stand, but even that was not enough to discourage the tourists.

Zimbabwe's eventual total of 235 owed everything to Raza and Panyangara, but where the batsmen had failed, so the bowling attack followed suit.

Guptill and Latham eased to victory largely without trouble, surpassing Stephen Fleming and Lou Vincent's 204-run partnership against the same opposition in 2005.

It was New Zealand's best opening stand in ODIs against an ICC full member nation, slotting in behind only James Marshall and Brendon McCullum's 274 against Ireland in 2008.

Source: PA