Zimbabwe pip New Zealand to win one-day series

Zimbabwe pip New Zealand to win one-day series
REUTERS

AUCKLAND, JANUARY 7: Captain Heath Streak led Zimbabwe to an unlikely victory in the third one-day international against New Zealand in Auckland on Sunday. Streak scored an unbeaten 79 to take his team to a one-wicket victory and a 2-1 series win with just eight balls remaining.

Streak hit the winning runs with a massive six over extra-cover to take Zimbabwe to 274 for nine after earlier struggling at 64 for five. The captain's 79 came off 67 balls and included four fours and five sixes as he peppered the New Zealand bowlers around the ground.

As Zimbabwe were nearing the target, Streak lost Travis Friend for 19 after a partnership of 69 and then Bryan Strang for a three-ball duck. Last-man Brian Murphy kept out two balls of Franklin's final over, which left Streak facing McMillan for the penultimate over.

Zimbabwe needed 12 runs off 12 balls with just one wicket left. The first ball went to four at long-on, the third was a two to mid-wicket and the fourth was the six into the stand at extra-cover. Zimbabwe had a disastrous start when Trevor Madondo was run out after the first ball. Alistair Campbell had pushed the first ball from James Franklin to Mathew Sinclair at mid-wicket and Madondo advanced down the pitch for a run before being sent back by Campbell. Sinclair's throw and Franklin's removing the bails beat him easily.

From then wickets fell regularly, with Scott Styris removing three of the top order. Campbell went for two, bowled by Styris, Guy Rennie went first ball caught by Fleming in the slips and Guy Whittall got an inside edge to be bowled. Through all this Andy Flower was resolute at the other end and when Whittall left at 64 for five he was joined by Dirk Viljoen, playing his first game of the series, and the two took the score through to 146 before Viljoen was smartly stumped by Adam Parore off Chris Harris.

When Flower was caught Franklin bowled Astle for 81 when the score at 180 and things looked bleak for Zimbabwe. But Streak and Friend had other ideas and quickly got a 50 partnership off just 42 balls and then Streak reached his 50 in 51 balls with one four and four sixes.

New Zealand had suffered a mid-innings wobble which was righted by Craig McMillan, who scored 75 not out from 53 balls. The innings was aided by Nathan Astle's 48 and Stephen Fleming's 44, but McMillan's partnership with Styris of 58 gave the home side a respectable score of 273.

For Zimbabwe, leg-spinner Brian Murphy was the pick of the bowlers, taking three for 43 off his 10 overs.

NEW ZEALAND:M Sinclair c Murphy b Streak 7; N Astle b Murphy 48; S Fleming c&b Murphy 44; R Twose c Flower b Whittall 30; J Oram c Streak b Murphy 21; C McMillan not out 75; C Harris run out (Viljoen) 8; A Parore run out (Whittall) 7; S Styris c Madondo b Strang 9; J Franklin b Streak 1; P Wiseman not out 7; Extras (lb7, w8, nb1): 16; Total (for 9 wkts, 50 overs): 273.
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-88, 3-135, 4-163, 5-166, 6-179, 7-202, 8-202, 9-266.

Bowling: Streak 8-1-34-2, Friend 6-0-31-0, Strang 6-0-50-1, Murphy 10-0-43-3, Viljoen 10-0-57-0, Whittall 10-0-51-1.

ZIMBABWE:A Campbell b Styris 2; T Madondo run out (Franklin) 0; S Carlisle b Franklin 13; A Flower c Franklin b Astle 81; G Rennie c Fleming b Styris 0; G Whittall b Styris 14; D Viljoen st Parore b Harris 39; H Streak not out 79; T Friend c Parore b McMillan 19; B Strang b McMillan 0; B Murphy not out 0; Extras (w14, b2, lb10, nb1): 27; Total (for 9 wkts, 48.4 overs): 274.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-14, 3-49, 4-50, 5-64, 6-146, 7-180, 8-249, 9-255.

Bowling: Franklin 9-1-52-1, Styris 9-1-36-3, Oram 5-0-21-0, McMillan 6.4-0-49-2, Astle 10-0-47-1, Wiseman 2-0-21-0, Harris 7-0-36-1.
Zimbabwe won by one wicket.
Man of the match: Heath Streak.