Zimbabwe batting crumbles against New Zealand attack

S S Ramaswamy
Ahmedabad, Mar 4 (PTI) Zimbabwe's top-order batsmen
crumbled against the New Zealand attack before the tail wagged
defiantly as the African nation managed a meagre 162 in 46.2
overs in their must-win Group A World Cup match at the Sardar
Patel Stadium at Motera in western India, Friday.
Barring experienced opener Brendan Taylor, who top scored
with 44 (57 balls, 4x4) and rearguard action from Prosper
Utseya (36) and Graeme Cremer (22), the top-order batsmen put
up an insipid show to leave Zimbabwe tottering at 89 for 7
after 27 overs on a strip that was good for batting.
Apart from Taylor, who was the sixth batsman to be
dismissed, only Craig Irvine (11) got into double figures
among the top six against a determined and efficient New
Zealand. The Black Caps' bowling was backed up by some
splendid fielding.
Former captain Utseya who made 36 in 65 balls with the
help of 3 boundaries showed more gumption than their more
accomplished frontline batsmen barring Taylor.
Zimbabweans added 40 runs for the last two wickets as New
Zealand were left to score the runs at an asking rate of 3.26.
In their six head-to-head meetings, New Zealand have won five
times while one match didn't yield any result.
Zimbabwe, opted to bat first received an early jolt when
opener Charles Coventry was run out for a duck in the second
over of the day.
Coventry drove a Tim Southee delivery to mid-on and set
off for quick single. However Hamish Bennett showed brilliant
anticipation as he hit the stumps with a smart under-arm throw
as Coventry was still short of his ground.
The New Zealand bowlers then stuck to a disciplined line
as the batsmen found it difficult to score runs. As Zimbabwe
batsmen perished due to poor shot selection, it was Taylor who
showed a lot of common sense in his approach before he was
adjudged leg before off Scott Styris.
Wickets fell at regular intervals. Tatenda Taibu, who
scored a fine 98 in their 175-run victory over Canada, was
trapped leg before by an in-cutter from Southee as the batsman
tried to play it down the leg-side. The wicket-keeper made
just 8 in 18 balls.
Inside 25 overs, more than half of the side were back in
the hut as Daniel Vettori's men had firm grip over the
proceedings.

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori grabbed two wickets in
the space of three deliveries in his very first over to leave
Zimababwe tottering at 46 for 5 inside of the first two
Powerplays.
Prior to that Kyle Mills, had sent back Craig Ervine as
the batsman slashed one straight to Jesse Ryder standing at
backward point. Mills (two for 29) returned to the side to
play his first match in the World Cup after recovering from
his back injury that forced him to miss action for one month.
Vettori trapped rival captain Elton Chigumbura (1) off
his very first delivery and then had Regis Chakabva (0) trying
to drive a delivery that was snapped up smartly by Ross Taylor
standing at first slip. Vettori finished with impressive
figures of two for 25 in his quota of 10 overs.
Greg Lamb was also run out after the addition of three
runs, an excellent piece of co-ordination by Martin Guptill
and bowler Vettori, to leave Zimbabwe gasping at 89 for 7.
A stubborn ninth wicket stand of 33 between Utseya and
Cremer took Zimbabwe past the 100-run mark to give the total a
semblance of respectability.
Cremer edged one to rival wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum
while attempting to drive Mills to leave his team at a
precarious 122 for 8 after 37 overs.
Utseya and Ray Price (11) then got together to add 35
runs, incidentally the highest for the innings, for the 9th
wicket in seven overs to prolong the innings before the latter
got trapped in front by Southee who also sent back Utseya and
had figures of three for 29 to show for his efforts.
New Zealand did not even have to summon their second
spinner Nathan McCullum into the attack till late into the
innings. He was called on to bowl in the 38th over of the
Zimbabwean innings.
Earlier, Zimbabwe made two changes from the eleven that
played in their last match against Canada which they won,
bringing in Chakabava and Tinashe Panyangara for the injured
Sean Williams and Chris Mpofu.
New Zealand, who had also lost to defending champions
Australia in one of their two previous ties in the group like
Zimbabwe, replaced an out-of-form Jamie How with Mills.