Ervine maiden ton sends Zimbabwe to big win over NZ

Craig Ervine crunched 130 not out from 108 balls in Harare – an innings that featured 11 fours and five maximums – as the hosts chased down New Zealands 303-4 with six balls to spare, Nathan McCullums wide at the start of the 50th over handing Zimbabwe a memorable triumph. “We thought it was probably a 270-280 wicket so we were probably 20 ahead”, Taylor said.

With the home side now 1-0 up in the three-match series, the onus is on New Zealand to recover and show their superiority.

Lefthander Ervine shared a 120-run second wicket stand with experienced opener Hamilton Masakadza, who made 84, before Ervine and Sean Williams tore off the last 44 runs to the target in only four overs as New Zealand’s bowlers fell short of the job.

“The way Ervine batted as well as Masakadza, they batted outstandingly well and took the game away from us”. A series win over the Kiwis will come now as a no surprise; however it will definitely hurt the visitors since after 15 consecutive wins at home, they have now lost five out of their last seven away matches.

Man of the match Ervine said: “It feels very good, especially to be there at the end”.

Williamson and Taylor had no trouble in recording their 10th century stand in ODIs-a new record for a New Zealand pair.

Zimbabwe kept up the pressure and Chibhabha soon got some success when he dismantled Latham’s furniture to reduce the tourists to 39-2 in the first nine overs.

New Zealand would have wanted a straightforward, albeit fairly testing, sweep of Zimbabwe as preparation for facing South Africa this month. So often competitive, Zimbabwe have far too often been guilty of failing to get across the line for major victories.

Counterpart Elton Chigumbura says the result will be an enormous fillip for Zimbabwe and provides proof they are competitive with the leading ODI nations. To chase down 300 on any surface is a really good effort, and Craig Ervine’s hundred was the difference.

The pace attack failed to take a wicket in the game one defeat, with spinner Nathan McCullum took all three wickets. “Hopefully we can bounce back in the next game”.

With the second ODI of the three-match series again in Harare, Kane Williamson’s New Zealand side have to retrospect and come out with solutions in order to level the series with a win in the must-win game.