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Brendon McCullum celebrates his century - Source: Photosport -
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New Zealand have completed a series whitewash over Zimbabwe, storming to a 202-run win in the final one-day international in Napier.
The Black Caps produced another record breaking performance with the bat to play the visitors out of the game by the halfway point. After winning the toss and choosing to bat on the flat McLean Park wicket they reached their highest ever total at home of 373/8, outdoing their 372 in Whangarei on Monday.
A century from stand-in skipper Brendon McCullum and another massive opening stand from Martin Guptill and Rob Nicol propelled New Zealand to the impressive total.
McCullum played a controlled knock after coming in at a challenging stage in the New Zealand innings with the openers having been dismissed in consecutive balls. He consolidated the innings before accelerating in the final overs to bring up his ton off only 78 deliveries.
Zimbabwe never looked like threatening the imposing total, opting to play it safe rather than have a crack and eventually slumped to 171 all out in 44 overs.
The spinners were the most successful of the New Zealand bowlers with Kane Williamson claiming 2/13 from three overs, Nathan McCullum cleaned up the tail to end with figures of 2/21 while Tarun Nethula got his first ODI wickets snaring 2/41.
Outstanding Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor was the only batsman who managed to get anything going making 65 at better than a run a ball.
Flying start
Guptill and Nicol bettered their 131-run opening stand from Whangarei by making 153 for the first wicket, with the pair punishing the wayward bowling of the Zimbabwe seamers.
Guptill raced to his fifth consecutive 50 from just 38 balls, as he blasted 12 boundaries including five sixes. Nicol survived a shaky start to make another 50 following his 146 in Whangarei on Monday.
However Zimbabwe finally broke through when both men were out in consecutive balls. Nicol was first to go when Prosper Utseya struck him on the pads as he tried to work it on the legside, sending him back to the pavilion for 61.
Guptill went next ball in a bizarre situation. Looking in good form on 85, Price bowled him a legside wide and he overbalanced as he tried to get back in his crease allowing Tatenda Taibu to whip the bails off and send him on his way, again missing out on reaching triple figures.
Oram was again promoted up the order and he and McCullum looked to rebuild and called for the batting powerplay once they had their eye in. However Oram was dismissed on 25 half way through the five overs, dragging a short delivery from Kyle Jarvis onto his stumps.
McCullum and Kane Williamson consolidated the New Zealand innings with a partnership of 84, before Williamson was sent on his way as he was hit on the pads trying to sweep Elton Chigumbura and given out LBW for 38.
Nathan McCullum added some fireworks late in the piece as he blasted three sixes in a row off the struggling Brian Vitori. However he hit it straight to a cover fielder in the next over and had to go for 21 from seven balls.
His younger brother continued to push on and despite running out Andrew Ellis (5) trying to reach his century, he eventually brought up the milestone. McCullum wasn't done there and smashed a few more big boundaries before getting out on the last ball of the innings, caught after trying to slog one over the top.
Veteran spinner Ray Price was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers finishing his 10 overs with figures of 2/59. Kyle Jarvis and spinner Prosper Utseya were tidier than the others with figures of 2/58 and 1/47 respectively. All the other seamers struggled with Vitori the worst of the bunch going at 11.66 from his nine overs.
Zimbabwe meander
The Zimbabwe chase started at a snail's pace and took a setback in the sixth over when some suicidal running between the wickets saw the end of Tino Mawoyo for 9. Bracewell then had the other opener Stuart Matsikenyeri LBW in the next over for 5 to have Zimbabwe struggling at 14/2.
Debutant Michael Bates snared his first international wicket when Tatenda Taibu (26) skied one straight down the throat of sub fielder Colin de Grandhomme at third man.
Then more crazy running from Zimbabwe led to the downfall of Malcolm Waller for four. After playing a nicely-timed drive through the covers, Waller pushed for a third run but De Grandhomme relayed the ball back to Nathan McCullum, who shovelled it on to his younger brother behind the stumps who had more than enough time to whip the bails off to reduce Zimbabwe to 101/4.
De Grandhomme was in the action again when Taylor spooned one high off the bowling of Williamson and the sub took a great catch over his head.
Legspinner Nethula was finally rewarded for applying some serious pressure with his first ODI wicket when he had Elton Chigumbura LBW for 16. He had his second not long after when he found the outside edge of Prosper Utseya allowing Williamson to take a sharp catch at first slip.
Price added some much needed excitement late in the match sweeping Nethula for a massive six over midwicket however it was to be shortlived and he was on his way for 14 when he reverse swept straight into the hands of Bates.
Nathan McCullum came back from a rough start to clean up the tail taking the wickets of Regis Chakabva and Vitori to close out the match.
The Black Caps focus now shifts to the first of two Twenty20s in Auckland on Saturday.
