Cricket: Powerful start lets NZ fans dream big

Martin Guptill. Photo / Getty Images

Not an hour had gone by in New Zealand's innings at McLean Park yesterday, when minds were already turning to records.

Specifically, whether New Zealand's batsmen could reach 400, having won the toss on a flat pitch.

Those with a fascination for such things would have been kept interested for much of the innings.

At 10 overs, openers Martin Guptill and Rob Nicol had reached 83; at 30 overs using the old yardstick of doubling the total for a final score guide, New Zealand were 192 for three.

In the end, they reached 373 for eight, beating by one run the old mark - set at Whangarei on Monday - for the highest ODI total by a New Zealand side on home soil. Zimbabwe made 171 giving New Zealand a 202-run win with six overs unbowled.

The events of the first couple of hours effectively ended the final ODI of the series with Zimbabwe as a contest.

Zimbabwe then had two choices: spend as long at the crease as possible or take a damn the torpedoes philosophy, given that they have two T20 internationals around the corner. Crease occupancy is low on the priorities in that form.

As it happened, New Zealand's bowlers worked steadily through the order, captain Brendon Taylor showing his abilities with a defiant, run-a-ball 65, and there were maiden international wickets for Michael Bates and Tarun Nethula.

The first half of the match was, frankly, carnage.

It was easy to admire the batsmen's dedication to the feast, but too much of the bowling was club standard.

Once again Zimbabwe were let down by their fielding.

Four catches were spilled at Whangarei. Yesterday it was two. Both were clangers.

Rob Nicol, miscuing a pull, was dropped at square leg by Tino Mawoyo on 10, en route to 61; while Brendon McCullum was put down at long off by Regis Chakabva on 48 on his way to a fourth ODI hundred, 119 off 88 balls.

Both times the luckless bowler was left armer Brian Vitori.

Poor Vitori was a desolate figure by the end of the demolition. His one for 105 from nine overs have him in eighth place on the worst all-time ODI figures for economy.

There were 16 maximum blows in all, five each from Brendon McCullum and Guptill, who once again had a century for the taking before being stumped off a legside wide.

New Zealand needed 81 off the last five overs to reach 400 - not unattainable as they had mustered 86 in the same situation at Whangarei. Brendon McCullum flayed the attack, epitomising the foot to the floor mentality.

* Andrew Ellis was yesterday added to New Zealand's T20 squad for the two games against Zimbabwe, starting at Eden Park tomorrow.

The Canterbury allrounder replaces batsman Dean Brownlie, who fractured a finger dropping a catch at Whangarei. Brownlie is expected to be sidelined for about a month, making him an unlikely starter for the first test against South Africa, which begins in Dunedin on March 7.