NAIROBI - Roger Twose took the man-of-the-match award as New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 64 runs to earn a place in the last four of the ICC Knockout tournament today.
Twose hit 85 from 111 balls, including four fours and a six, to get the Black Caps through to 265 for seven in their 50 overs and Zimbabwe, in reply, were bowled out for 201 in 42.2 overs.
The win means New Zealand will face Pakistan in tomorrow's semifinal match.
After being put into bat, the Kiwis suffered an early blow when Nathan Astle was dismissed for a duck, caught by Grant Flower off Henry Olonga.
A 53-run partnership between Stephen Fleming and Craig Spearman steadied the innings before Olonga claimed his second victim when Heath Streak caught Spearman for 20.
Fleming then shared a half-century third-wicket stand with Twose before the captain was run out for 34 by Guy Whittall's throw from cover point.
Craig McMillan provided the impetus in a key partnership of 95 – the right-hander hitting 52 from 51 deliveries. Adam Parore then hit 20 from just eight balls to take the total over 260.
Zimbabwe's only batsmen to make an impact in the run chase were Alistair Campbell, who hit 47 before being trapped lbw by Chris Harris, and Stuart Carlisle with 67 before he was caught off the bowling of Paul Wiseman.
Of the rest, only Guy Whittall (26) and Heath Streak (20) managed to reach double figures.
Wiseman was the pick of New Zealand's bowlers taking 4-45 of 9.2 overs.
New Zealand's total was the joint highest in the tournament with India's score against Australia in Saturday's quarterfinal, which India won by 20 runs.
Following the match New Zealand coach David Trist said that while it was nice to put one back on Zimbabwe after losing the one-day series, there was still plenty of room for improvement.
He said the fielding was left wanting at times, and the team missed a couple of half chances.
Pakistan, New Zealand and India have now reached the semifinals.
On Tuesay, England, who beat Bangladesh in a preliminary round, play South Africa in the last quarterfinal.
The only concern for New Zealand is the injury of all-rounder Chris Cairns.
Cairns played only a limited role win over Zimbabwe and coach David Trist says a cortisone injection he recieved in his knee appears to have had little affect.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board has asked President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar to order a judicial inquiry into allegations of match-fixing against Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup, during which they lost to Bangladesh by 62 runs and to India by 47 runs.
"The PCB chairman has requested the president to order a judicial inquiry into the allegations of betting, match-fixing and gambling concerning the matches against India and Bangladesh," a board statement said.
Sources said the move was initiated on the International Cricket Council's directives.
- INDEPENDENT IRN and HERALD ONLINE STAFF
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