New Zealand thumped Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the second one-day international on Tuesday, with openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham both making unbeaten centuries to level the series for the tourists at 1-1.
With Guptill and Latham rampant, New Zealand made 236-0 to easily pass Zimbabwe’s 235-9 with over seven overs to spare.
Guptill finished on 116 not out and Latham’s undefeated 110 was his first hundred in ODIs. Their partnership was New Zealand’s second highest for the opening wicket in ODIs, and the ninth best ever.
The third and deciding game of the series is on Friday.
New Zealand earlier restricted Zimbabwe to a low score which would have been even lower if not for Sikandar Raza’s 100 not out for the host at Harare Sports Club. He shared a Zimbabwe-record ninth-wicket stand of 89 with Tinashe Panyangara, who made 33.
Legspinner Ish Sodhi took 3-38 for New Zealand in his second ODI.
Raza’s third ODI century saved Zimbabwe’s innings, having arrived with the score on 68-5 after the home team opted to bat first. His late-innings hitting included five fours and four sixes.
Still, New Zealand’s openers proved Zimbabwe should have made a much bigger score on the placid surface in Harare.
Guptill struck 11 fours and a six, reached his century off 116 balls and faced 138 deliveries in all. Latham was even quicker to his century, off 106 balls, as New Zealand cantered home to send the series to a deciding game.
Zimbabwe surprisingly won the first ODI after chasing down New Zealand’s 303-4 on Sunday.
