Guptill Hits Century As New Zealand Clinch Series

Guptill Hits Century As New Zealand Clinch Series

New Zealand wrapped up an ODI series victory over Zimbabwe at the earliest possibility

©REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo (ZIMBABWE - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

New Zealand 261-6 (Guptill 105, McCullum 87) beat
Zimbabwe 259-8 (Taylor 107no) by 4 wickets
Second One-Day International, Harare
Scorecard

Martin Guptill scored a century and Andy McKay took four wickets as New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by six wickets in the second One-Day International in Harare to move into an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Guptill made 105 and Brendon McCullum 87 as the Black Caps overhauled a target of 260 by closing on 261 for six in reply to Zimbabwe's score of 259 for eight.

Brendan Taylor became the first Zimbabwean to register back-to-back centuries but his efforts proved in vain.

He scored 107 not out in 105 balls and was given support by Malcolm Waller, who made 43 although the next highest score was 20, registered by both Hamilton Masakadza and Keegan Meth.

McKay removed Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu (2), Waller and Elton Chigumbura (14) while Jacob Oram returned three for 48.

Rob Nicol (9) then fell early but a 157-run partnership between Guptill and McCullum put New Zealand on course for victory.

Guptill faced 120 balls, hitting nine fours while McCullum faced 99 deliveries, carving three fours and four sixes and although Meth removed both Nicol and McCullum to cause New Zealand some nervy moments towards the end - Ross Taylor (11), BJ Watling (19) and James Franklin (1) also fell cheaply - they got home with ten balls to spare.

Kane Williamson was unbeaten on 14 and Oram made one not out.

The third and final match is on 25th October in Bulawayo.

© Cricket World 2011