It is Zimbabwean all-rounder Malcolm Waller who takes this week's award following his match-winning innings of 99 not out from only 74 balls in the final one-day international against New Zealand. Responding to the Black Caps' imposing total of 328 for five, the 27 year-old from Harare hit 11 boundaries during his innings and, in conjunction with an innings of 75 from his captain Brendan Taylor and 53 from Tatenda Taibu, took his side home with one ball to spare. He also top-scored for Zimbabwe A in their two-day tour match against the New Zealanders.
Powerful New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder has been ruled out of the Test match against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo with a right calf injury.
Ryder picked up the injury during a warm-up game against a Zimbabwe XI, when he was able to deliver just three balls before struggling with the problem.
New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Mills has been ruled out of the Test match against Zimbabwe and has returned home following an abductor muscle injury.
New Zealand won both Twenty20 Internationals and took the three-match One-Day Internationals series 2-1 with Mills playing in the opening Twenty20 and opening ODI.
Malcolm Waller hit an unbeaten 99 in 74 balls as Zimbabwe recorded their highest successful run chase to beat New Zealand by one wicket with one ball of the third and final One-Day International remaining in Bulawayo.
In a high-scoring game, twin centuries from Ross Taylor, who made 119, and Kane Williamson, whose 100 came from just 69 balls, were not enough for New Zealand, who nevertheless clinched the series 2-1.
This week's award goes to Brendan Taylor, who has hit two centuries in the past week, albeit in losing causes, in doing so becoming the first Zimbabwean to hit back-to-back tons.
The 25-year-old from Harare has been the rock upon which Zimbabwe's successful return has been built and the captaincy of the side appears to have only increased his already not insignificant hunger for runs. He can only hope that his current rich vein of form continues and that the rest of his teammates can follow his example.
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.
In association with bet365 John Pennington and Jim White make their cricket (and rugby) predictions ahead of another busy busy weekend.
Hear their thoughts on the second ODI between Zimbabwe and New Zealand (will it be a sporting double for the all blacks?), the fourth ODI between England And India (are India heading for a 5-0 whitewash) and the second ODI between Australia and South Africa.
Rob Nicol marked his One-Day International debut with an unbeaten century as New Zealand handed Zimbabwe a nine-wicket thrashing in the first game in Harare.
Brendan Taylor had earlier stroked a fine century to rescue Zimbabwe from an earlier collapse but their score of 231 all out proved woefully inadequate against a rampant New Zealand outfit.
Half-centuries from Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill and then three wickets from Nathan McCullum set up a 34-run win for New Zealand over Zimbabwe in the second Twenty20 International in Harare.
Openers McCullum and Guptill put on 120 for the first wicket as the Black Caps amassed 187 for three before bowling Zimbabwe out for 154.
New Zealand overpowered Zimbabwe to beat them by ten wickets in the opening Twenty20 International in Harare and get their tour off to a winning start.
Brendan Taylor scored 50 in 46 balls for the home side but they were restricted to 123 for eight and were helpless as Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill knocked off the runs in just 13.3 overs.
In association with bet365 John Pennington and Jim White look ahead to a packed schedule of cricket this weekend with ODI action in Bangladesh and Twenty20 Internationals in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee has been ruled out of the one-off Test match against Zimbabwe and will not travel due to a knee injury.
Southee was ruled out of the Champions League Twenty20 in late September but New Zealand Cricket (NZC) were hopeful that he would be fit to tour Zimbabwe, naming him in the Test squad.
Zimbabwe have named a 15-man squad for the two-match Twenty20 International series against New Zealand which begins with the opening game on 15th October.
Brendan Taylor will continue to lead the squad for the matches in Harare as they look to build on a series of encouraging performances against Pakistan and Bangladesh since their return to Test cricket.
New Zealand have named their squads to tour Zimbabwe next month for a series of Tests, One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have named a 15-man squad for the ODIs and T20Is which will be played in October ahead of the one-off Test match, which begins on 1st November.
