[1] Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakadza hits out on his way to 36. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo Buoyed by their rampant middle order Zimbabwe produced their biggest run chase of all-time as they overhauled New Zealand's 328-5 to sneak a one-wicket win in the final over of their one-day international in Bulawayo this morning.
The hosts made 329-9 batting second on the back of an unbeaten 99 from Malcolm Waller, 75 from man-of-the-series Brendan Taylor, 53 from the plucky Tatenda Taibu, while Elton Chigumbura also contributed a vital 47.
Waller, who was named man of the match in the dead rubber after the Kiwis wrapped up the series 2-0 on Sunday, combined with Chigumbura to hammer a pivotal 112 runs for the sixth wicket, which pushed Zimbabwe in the right direction of their massive pursuit.
Not only was the total Zimbabwe's biggest chase, it was the eighth-highest chase by any country and the African nation's fourth largest score in a one-day international.
No side held the ascendancy during the second innings of the game, played at the Queens Sports Club, as Zimbabwe managed to keep pace with the required run rate, but they lost wickets regularly.
The Black Caps didn't make it easier on themselves, shelling catches in the field and the side also blew a run out chance to dismiss Waller.
Interestingly, BJ Watling kept wicket as the McCullum brothers, Nathan and Brendon, combined to take four catches in the outfield and set an example for the team.
Jacob Oram was charged with bowling the final over with Zimbabwe needing four to win.
Waller managed a two and a single from the first two balls, as bizarrely, both deliveries brought catching chances that were dropped by skipper Ross Taylor at short mid-wicket.
Zimbabwe No 10 Ray Price then faced a nervous dot ball, before skying a catch to get out, but Waller made sure he crossed and on the second-to-last ball of the innings he calmly stroked a single to win the game.
The wayward bowling and fielding performance erased the good work of New Zealand's batsmen, particularly Taylor and rookie Kane Williamson, who had earlier put on a record 195-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Both players made hundreds, with Taylor carving 119 and Williamson finishing unbeaten on 100 from only 69 balls - the second-fastest one-day hundred by a Kiwi after Craig McMillan's 67-ball century against Australia in Hamilton in 2007.
Jesse Ryder also contributed a handy 53, which helped steer the ship in the right direction after New Zealand were on the ropes at 41-3 after Watling, Rob Nicol and Brendon McCullum had all departed early.
Taylor said the outcome was disappointing for New Zealand who wanted to win the series 3-0, but had to settle for 2-1.
"I thought 320 was a par score. It was a pretty good wicket. The way Kane batted was fantastic, but Zimbabwe batted superbly,'' Taylor told ESPNcricinfo.com
"The story of this series has been, if you drop catches, you lose matches. I was a bit rusty and enjoyed some luck with the bat. Kane was outstanding. We could have bowled a bit straighter, but I am going to put my hand up. I dropped two easy catches, and if you do that you are going to lose matches.''
Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor told the website the result was a great way to finish the series for their side, who stopped a 12-game losing streak across all formats of the game.
"Awesome feeling. Nice to end the way we did. Nice to salvage a bit of pride. All credit to New Zealand. We will take a lot out of this. We have a little bit of momentum now. From start to finish the guys were positive in their approach. No nails left. The crowd always turns up, this one is for them, and everyone who has shown up in the past.''
New Zealand meet a Zimbabwe XI in a two-day tour match on Friday, before next week's one-off test match.
Scoreboard:
New Zealand
Rob Nicol c Sibanda b Nicol 14
BJ Watling run out Waller 0
Brendon McCullum c Mutizwa b Ncube 18
Ross Taylor b Ncube 119
Jesse Ryder c & b Waller 53
Kane Williamson not out 100
Nathan McCullum not out 1
Extras: (6lb, 15w, 2nb) 23
TOTAL: (for five wickets) 328
Overs: 50.
Did not bat: Jacob Oram, Luke Woodcock, Andy McKay, Graeme Aldridge.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-25, 3-41, 4-124, 5-319.
Bowling: Keegan Meth 10-0-85-0 (3w), Njabulo Ncube 8.5-1-69-3 (2nb, 3w), Ray Price 10-0-57-0 (2w), Elton Chigumbura 5.1-0-31-0 (2w), Natsai Mushangwe 10-1-50-0, Malcolm Waller 6-0-30-1.
Zimbabwe
Vusi Sibanda c B. McCullum b N. McCullum 0
Hamilton Masakadza b Oram 36
Brendan Taylor c N. McCullum b McKay 75
Tatenda Taibu c B. McCullum b McKay 53
Forster Mutizwa c N. McCullum b Nicol 0
Malcolm Waller not out 99
Elton Chigumbura b Oram 47
Keegan Meth b Woodcock 0
Natsai Mushangwe b Woodcock 7
Ray Price c B. McCullum b Oram 2
Njabulo Ncube not out 0
Extras: (5lb, 4w, 1nb) 10
TOTAL: (for nine wickets) 329
Overs: 49.5
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-100, 3-159, 4-164, 5-183, 6-295, 7-296, 8-308, 9-328.
Bowling: Nathan McCullum 7-0-62-1 (1nb), Graeme Aldridge 9-0-53-0, Jacob Oram 9.5-0-44-3 (1w), Andy McKay 9-0-77-2 (2w), Luke Woodcock 9-0-58-2 (1w), Rob Nicol 6-0-30-1.
Result: Zimbabwe won by one wicket.
Series: New Zealand won the three-match series 2-1.
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