Zimbabwe finally showed up in the second EconetTwenty20 international cricket series but still came out on the losing end as they went down by 34 runs the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-affected match at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
The Black Caps sealed the two-match series 2-0. Two rain interruptions, which delayed the start of play due to a wet outfield, meant the match was reduced to 18 overs a side after Brendan Taylor had won the toss and elected to field.
New Zealand, led by an explosive opening stand from their in-form openers Martin Guptill (67 off 46 balls) and Brendon McCullum (64 off 37 balls) set an imposing 187 for three in their allotted 18 overs.
Jarvis finished with two wickets for 36 runs. Led by a career-best 67 off 46 deliveries from opener Chamu Chibhabha and a brisk 39 off 22 balls by Elton Chigumbura, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 154 in 16, 5 overs.
Paceman Doug Bracewell and spinner Nathan McCullum were the pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis with three wickets apiece.
Zimbabwe’s chase got off to a poor start when Hamilton Masakadza was caught behind for just nine runs.
Taylor followed for just one run. Chigumbura resurrected Zimbabwe’s chase with an entertaining 39 off 22 balls before he was caught and bowled by off-spinner Nathan McCullum, whose two deliveries later also dismissed Charles Coventry for a duck.
Coventry’s dismissal triggered Zimbabwe’s collapse, with wicketkeeper- batsman Forster Mtizwa (22) making the only decent contribution while three first-ball ducks by the tail-enders worsened the already gloomy situation.
