Guptill stars in comprehensive New Zealand win

Martin Guptill blazed his way to 91 runs off 54 balls to help New Zealand overhaul a competitive 160-run target in the first T20 against Zimbabwe at Auckland. The Kiwi chase was jolted by two early blows but Guptill and Kane Williamson shared a century stand. Eventually, Guptill took them home with 19 deliveries and seven wickets to spare.

Earlier, Zimbabwe were driven to a healthy total of 159 for 8 by purposeful knocks from Hamilton Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura. The two ensured that Zimbabwe went at a good rate even when the Kiwi spinners kept batsmen on a tight leash. Masakadza’s half-century set the stage for a late charge and Chigumbura did exactly that by smashing 48 runs towards the end at a strike rate of 200.

Brendan Taylor, electing to bat first after calling correctly at the toss, came out to bat as an opener but was clean bowled for only three in the second over. In the next over, Forster Mutizwa was dismissed for zero as Zimbabwe found themselves in an all-too-familiar position- two wickets down with the score yet to cross twenty.

However, Masakadza undid some of the early damage by playing aggressively. With Tatenda Taibu for company, he not only steadied the innings but scored at a fair clip as well to keep the score board moving. While Taibu played anchor in the 62-run stand, Masakadza cashed-in on any given opportunity to free his arms. He carted three sixes in his 36-ball 53 before holing out near the cow corner boundary. Taibu on 27 and Malcolm Waller fell in quick succession as Zimbabwe slipped to 106 for 5.

This brought together the Chigumbura brothers and they launched a calculated assault in the sixteenth over bowled by Doug Bracewell. Shingi was the one to start it by deflecting one down to the fine leg boundary. But Elton used muscle as against deft touch to sent the ball sailing over long-on and two more powerfully struck boundaries meant 20 runs had come from the over. Two crowd-killers in the last over from Elton Chigumbura’s bat took Zimbabwe past 150 before he was caught in the deep.

For New Zealand, the chase was never going to be an issue if any of their top-order big hitters got going. At least Rob Nicol gave that impression by dispatching Kyle Jarvis for back to back boundaries at the start of second over before the bowler struck back, Nicol completely missed an attempted slog only to leave the furniture in a mess. Two balls later, Brendon McCullum fell on a rash stroke, trying to blast an away going delivery he only managed to hit it as far as mid-off.

The two early wickets gave Zimbabwe some hope as New Zealand could ill afford another wicket at 15 for two. However, the hosts still had in-form Martin Guptill at the crease. Along with Martin Williamson, he set about rebuilding the chase with strokes that oozed class.

Soon, Zimbabwe lost control of the proceedings by dishing out poor deliveries frequently, including nine wides, helping Guptill take charge by punishing them disdainfully. He hit half-a-dozen sixes in his 54-ball 91. They were not ugly slogs but strokes timed to perfection and most importantly, his shot selection was of the highest standard. Kane Williamson too played his part in the 137-run stand but fell short of a half-century when he was run-out on 48.

Fittingly, Guptill hit the winning runs to complete what might look like an easy seven wicket victory but Zimbabwe showed lot more fight than some of the other games played on the tour thus far.