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Martin Guptill opens up against Zimbabwe. - Source: Photosport
The Black Caps have continued their domination of Zimbabwe cruising to a seven-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 in Auckland tonight.
Martin Guptill continued his blistering form this summer to notch up his fifth consecutive international half century, taking advantage of ideal batting conditions at Eden Park. He finished with an unbeaten 91, guiding New Zealand home with over three overs to spare.
He was ably supported by Kane Williamson who chipped in with 48 from 36 balls in a 137-run stand with Guptill.
The match also provided a successful start to international T20 for Auckland bowlers Michael Bates and Roneel Hira who both had impressive returns on debut.
Zimbabwe were much improved with the bat after winning the toss, however their 159/8 was never going to be enough on a belter of a wicket and short boundaries favouring the batsmen.
Early in the match it looked as though the visitors were hardly going to trouble the scoreboard as wickets fell early.
Bates started his career in style claiming the prize scalp of Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor in his first over. Taylor shuffled across his stumps in an attempt to work the ball onto the on-side, but missed and the ball clipped the top of leg stump.
Kyle Mills then had Forster Mutizwa in the next over when he spooned an easy catch straight to Guptill at short cover to be on his way for a duck.
However Hamilton Masakadza for Zimbabwe bringing up his 50 off 33 balls. Three balls later when he came down the track trying to hit a fourth six which was caught on the midwicket boundary by James Franklin.
Tatenda Taibu followed shortly after for 27 when he was caught by Bracewell on the longoff boundary.
Malcolm Waller was next to go, unable to time a Mills slower ball sending his attempted pull shot into the safe hands of Guptill coming in from long-on.
Hira claimed his first international wicket as he took out the middle stump of Shingirai Masakadza, who mistimed his attempt at a slog sweep.
Elton Chigumbura helped provided some late excitement as he blasted three fours and four sixes, including two consecutively in the final over.
However he was dismissed attempting the third, with Guptills catch on the boundary giving Bates his second wicket.
He had his third two balls later when Prosper Utseya attempted a paddle shot which went straight to James Franklin to finish with figures of 3/31.
New Zealand made a shaky start to the chase when Rob Nicol was bowled by Kyle Jarvis in the second over after blasting 12.
Brendon McCullum was on his way for a duck two balls later as he toed it high to mid-off .
However the Guptill show took over to steady the ship as he blasted 11 boundaries including six sixes for his 91 from 54 deliveries. Williamson provided good support at the other end rotating the strike well and the pair never looked in trouble.
The same old problems haunted Zimbabwe as they bowled nine wides and had a number of misfields.
The partnership was finally broken in the last over when Williamson was run out, but Guptill quickly finished the job preventing debutant Colin de Grandhomme from facing a ball.
The tour concludes with the final T20 in Hamilton on
Tuesday.
