New Zealand have impressed at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, as they defeated Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to record their first Group A victory, in Ahmedabad, on Friday 4th March 2011.
The Black Caps removed Zimbabwe for 162 All Out in 46.2 overs, thanks to best bowling figures of 3 wickets for 29 runs from Southee’s 9.2 overs, a tight couple of spells, which included 3 maiden overs. Captain Vettori also bagged two wickets at an economical 2.5 an over from his 10 overs.
Zimbabwe’s best batsman, opener Taylor (44) received very little help, save a good couple of cameos from those down the order: Utseya (36 from number eight) and Cremer (22 from number nine) helping to put on some kind of score after Zimbabwe had an early crisis which had reduced them to 89 for 7, with a two figure total beckoning.
However, feelings that this was a reasonable batting track were confirmed when New Zealand then set about knocking off the total in 33.3 overs without loss, giving New Zealand a 10 Wicket Victory.
Black Caps openers Guptill (86 Not Out) and Brendon McCullum (76 Not Out) needed no assistance to take home the win for their side.
New Zealand v Zimbabwe – ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Scorecard
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat.| Zimbabwe 1st Innings | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | ||
| Taylor | lbw | b Styris | 44 | 57 | 4 | 0 |
| Coventry | run out (Bennett) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Taibu | lbw | b Southee | 8 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| C Ervine | c Ryder | b Mills | 11 | 25 | 2 | 0 |
| Chigumbura | lbw | b Vettori | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Chakabva | c Taylor | b Vettori | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Lamb | run out (Guptill) | 18 | 34 | 1 | 0 | |
| Utseya | b Southee | 36 | 65 | 3 | 0 | |
| Cremer | c B McCullum | b Mills | 22 | 43 | 1 | 0 |
| Price | lbw | b Southee | 11 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Panyangara | not out | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | |
| Extras | 3w 4lb | 7 | ||||
| Total | all out | 162 | (46.2 ovs) | |||
| New Zealand Bowlers | O | M | R | W |
| Mills | 10 | 0 | 29 | 2 |
| Southee | 9.2 | 3 | 29 | 3 |
| Bennett | 8 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Vettori | 10 | 3 | 25 | 2 |
| Styris | 4 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| N McCullum | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Ryder | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| New Zealand 1st Innings | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | ||
| Guptill | not out | 86 | 108 | 7 | 2 | |
| B McCullum | not out | 76 | 95 | 6 | 2 | |
| Extras | 2nb 1w 1lb | 4 | ||||
| Total | for 0 | 166 | (33.3 ovs) | |||
| Zimbabwe Bowlers | O | M | R | W |
| Panyangara | 5.3 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| Price | 7 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Utseya | 6 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Lamb | 5 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Cremer | 7 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Chigumbura | 3 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
