JOIN USFlying Kiwis brush Zimbabwe aside
Styris produced a superb pace bowling spell of three for five from his two overs while off-spinner McCullum took three wickets by giving away 16 runs to bundle out Zimbabwe for just 84 in 15.1 overs after New Zealand opted to bowl first on a turning pitch.
Both Styris and Nathan McCullum capitalised on some inept batting by Zimbabwe as they took all their wickets from a one over each. McCullum’s scalps came in the ninth over while Styris took his three in the 13th over.
Chasing 85 for a win, New Zealand made 36 for one from 8.1 overs before rain interrupted play with Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill at the crease on 22 and six respectively. At that time, New Zealand were seven runs ahead of par score under D/L method.
Rain stopped after around one hour but confusion prevailed as the target was revised twice as players were out to resume play only to end it abruptly.
After the first revision, the target for New Zealand was 45 from 11 overs but had to be changed to 40 from 10 overs. But all of a sudden, the match ended apparently because the ground was not ready for resumption of play after the heavy rain.
With the win, New Zealand topped Group B after winning both their matches and qualified for the Super Eight along with Sri Lanka, who finished second with one win. Zimbabwe lost both their two group matches to crash out of the tournament. New Zealand made a slow start in their run chase and they were pegged back by the loss of Jesse Ryder (2) in the third over.
Ryder ended his miserable stay at the crease, top-edging Prosper Utseya delivery while trying for a slog sweep for wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu to pouch it easily. Ryder consumed 11 balls for his two runs.
New Zealand made 19 for one after five overs and they were 36 for one in 8.1 overs when rain interrupted play.
Earlier, Zimbabwe batsmen collapsed in a heap after a steady start as they were bundled out for a paltry 84.
PTI
