New Zealand set big target for Zimbabwe ODI cricket

NAPIER, New Zealand (AFP) - New Zealand set Zimbabwe a daunting target of 374 after a quick-fire century from captain Brendon McCullum inspired the Black Caps to their third highest one-day international total on Thursday.

Chasing a 3-0 series whitewash, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat on a flat Napier wicket, finishing their 50-over innings at 373 for eight.

McCullum scored a swashbuckling 119 from 88 balls, including five sixes, after openers Martin Guptill (85) and Rob Nicol (61) laid the foundation for New Zealand's innings with a 153-run partnership.

Zimbabwe, returning to the ground where they suffered a humiliating defeat by an innings and 301 runs in a one-off Test last month, continued to struggle, undermined by loose bowling and shoddy fielding.

Kyle Jarvis was the best of the Zimbabwe bowlers with a modest two for 58, while Brian Vitori haemorrhaged 105 runs in nine overs for just one wicket.

Zimbabwe's best score in the series is 231 and it would be a major upset if they overhauled the New Zealand total.

The home side rode their luck at times but always looked comfortable against a Zimbabwe attack that has failed to adapt to New Zealand conditions.

Opening batsman Nicol, a centurion in the last one-dayer, was given out lbw for four in the first over but survived after appealing to the third umpire, who ruled he had got an inside edge off a Vitori inswinger.

He should have been out two overs later when a mis-timed pull shot sailed to square leg, only for Tinotenda Mawoyo to ground the catch.

Guptill, New Zealand's most consistent batsman of the series, made the most of the short McLean Park boundary, bringing up his fifth consecutive one-day half century in 38 balls, including four sixes and four fours.

Prosper Utseya eventually broke the opening partnership, trapping Nicol lbw on 61, while Guptill went for 85 after a bizarre stumping the next ball.

The batsman played and missed at an innocuous Ray Price delivery, called a wide, then took off for a single, believing the ball had skidded past wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu.

However, the ball had lodged under Taibu's arm and the wicketkeeper gleefully pulled it out and whipped off the bails as Guptill tried to scramble back to his crease.

It was one of the few pieces of good fortune to go Zimbabwe's way and McCullum, who was out to the last ball of the innings, ensured they had a miserable afternoon in the field.