All-round Kiwis seal a convincing win

Image // CricBuzz

A fine all-round performace by Kiwis saw Zimbabwe being tharshed in the only T20 International. If George Worker dictated an enterprising knock, then the bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals to restrict the hosts to a paltry total.  Here’s a breakdown:

Adam Milne and Mitchell McClenaghan bowled with zeal and a pace to trouble the opposition batters, bringing in key breakthroughs. Neesham, Sodhi and Nathan McCullum were also among the wickets. Zimbabwe never seemed to be in the game after losing early wickets. Only Craig Ervine played a handy knock.

Coming to the game, earlier, George Worker on his T20I debut smashed the ball to every nook and corner of the ground to register a fifty. Luke Ronchi and Colin Munro chipped in with quick-fire cameos at the death.

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura elected to field first after calling it right at the toss.

New Zeland innings was kickstarted by skipper Williamson as hit Prosper Utseya for 3 consecutive boundaries. However, it wasn’t just his day. His stay at the crease was ended by  T Muzarabani, a good take by ervine in the deep. He depareted after scoring 20 off 12

At the other end Guptill was scoring freely and kept it going for the Kiwis. He was joined by debutant Worker in the middle.

From then on, New Zealand seemed unstoppable! Worker was not under any kind of pressure and took charge immediately. In an enthralling knock of 62 runs, he registered his maiden fifty off just 33 balls! A hundred was certainly on cards!

Guptill was then dismissed by spinner Sean Williams to reduce the Kiwis to 75/2 after 8.4 overs. He made 33 off 24 balls.

In came World Cup hero Grant Elliot at number four. He had the perfect opportunity as things were set up nicely. Worker continued his exploits as he showed no respect for the opposition.

Elliot however, threw the wicket away, giving Cremer his first breakthrough. He disappointed and left after scoring 8 off 9.

Worker, who was looking in good nick was later dismissed by spinner Sean Williamson as he tried to hit one over the fence, ending up getting bowled! But nevertheless he played a brilliant knock.

The last three batsmen for New Zealand, Ronchi, Munro and Nathan Mcullum played quick cameos to take their team to 198/5 after 20 overs. They scored 29, 23 and 18 respectively. With 56 runs coming off the last four overs.

An asking-rate of ten an over for a side that had a highest successful T20 chase of 141 was always going to be difficult. To add to that, they had to face extreme pace of Milne who was playing his first international match since the World Cup quarter-final against West Indies in March. He  generated some sharp bounce, picking out Hamilton Masakadza and Regis Chakabva with short piched deliveries.

Chamu Chibhabha missed James Neesham's first ball and a McClenaghan bouncer took care of in form batsman Raza. When Elton Chigumbura holed to McCullum at long-on, Zimbabwe were reduced to 34 for 4 in just seven overs.

Ervine was put down first ball by keeper Ronchi off Milne. He stuck around to make 42, but he also consumed 46 deliveries. But not to forget no one else managed more than 16.

Things wrapped up at 1118 for 8 and kiwis registered an all-round win.

Worker was undoubtedly adjudged the Man of the Match for his knock of 62 off 38 on debut.