Ahmadabad, Mar 4: Unbeaten openers Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum hit half-centuries to guide New Zealand to a crushing 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Group A at the World Cup on Friday.
A disappointing Zimbabwe was limited to just 162 in 46.2 overs after Tim Southee led a potent New Zealand bowling attack with 3-29.
The performance lined up Guptill (86) and McCullum (76) to finish the job in 33.3 unhurried overs with a total of 166-0. The display gave New Zealand its second victory in three games and put it back in the race for the quarterfinals.
Zimbabwe's second defeat from three matches, underlined by the failure of its spin attack to make any impression on the Black Caps' batting lineup, leaves it almost certain to exit the competition.
Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura used six bowlers, including four spinners, against the openers. Bowling in the powerplays, spinners Ray Price and Prosper Utseya did at least manage to keep things tight early on.
But their inability to prevent Guptill and McCullum from getting in two very solid knocks meant New Zealand cruised to an easy victory.
The contrast with Zimbabwe's innings could not have been more marked.
Brendan Taylor topscored with an aggressive 44, but his teammates were less than impressive against Southee, plus Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills -- who came in for Jamie How after a seven-wicket defeat by Australia -- chipped in with two wickets each.
Zimbabwe got off to a troubled start after winning the toss and electing to bat, as Hamish Bennett pounced on opener Charles Coventry's drive off a Southee delivery and scored a direct hit on the stumps from mid on in the second over.
There was a momentary reprieve for a recovering Zimbabwe six overs later when Vettori dropped what was a regulation catch from Tatenda Taibu. But Southee trapped Taibu lbw with his very next ball for 8.
Craig Ervine (11) set about settling the innings before he sent a powerful drive straight into the waiting hands of Jesse Ryder at point to give Mills his first wicket and leave the African side on 42-3 and looking for inspiration.
It never arrived and things went from bad to worse for Zimbabwe at Sardar Patel Stadium.
Chigumbura lasted just four balls as Vettori made up for his fumble in the field with a wicket off his very first delivery. He went on to have Regis Chakabva caught at slip for a duck two balls later.
Taylor was the only anchor for the Zimbabwe innings, hitting four boundaries in his 57-ball knock. But when he fell lbw to Scott Styris in the 24th over with his side on 86, there seemed little chance of a recovery.
Greg Lamb was run out for 18 and Utseya scored 36 before being bowled by Southee. Graeme Cremer chipped in with 22 before he edged to wicketkeeper McCullum.
New Zealand is in action again on Tuesday against Pakistan at Kandy, Sri Lanka, while Zimbabwe faces Sri Lanka at the same venue two days later. AP
