Attacking openers set up New Zealand for dominance

25 overs New Zealand 161 for 2 (McCullum 3*, Oram 4*) v Zimbabwe

Martin Guptill and Rob Nicol slammed fifties, but fell to successive deliveries to leave New Zealand at 161 for 2 at the halfway stage of their innings in Napier. The pair flayed Zimbabwe's bowlers, hitting seven sixes and 13 fours between them, as they made a second consecutive century-stand and set their side on track for another mammoth total on a flat surface.

New Zealand's relentless salvo in the second one-dayer in Whangarei rolled into their innings in Napier, as Guptill and Nicol began laying into the Zimbabwe attack almost immediately. Utterly unafraid of a pedestrian attack that had failed to test them throughout the tour, the pair had seemingly decided they would test themselves; by igniting the New Zealand innings at the most furious pace yet. Both men marched towards the bowlers, sometimes before they were even in their delivery stride, using the momentum to hit straight, if the bowler struck to his length, or dropping back quickly to slam it square when the ball was banged in.

They added 83 in the first ten overs, before spin and a spread-out field slowed the rate somewhat. Ray Price was launched over square leg twice, but was treated with more respect than the seam bowlers, none of whom managed economy-rates under six.

Zimbabwe's bowlers may have rarely bowled two balls in the same place, but their woes were not all of their own making. Wherever they bowled, in the absence of any movement, the batsmen found ways to dispatch them to the fence. Guptill in particular, peppered his favoured legside by moving across the crease to change the line, while Nicol preferred to manipulate the length by advancing.

It could have been different for Zimbabwe though, had the poor fielding that has plagued them throughout the tour not followed them to Napier. Brian Vitori induced a top edge from Nicol in the third over, but almost predictably, the simple catch was shelled, as Tino Mawoyo overran the ball and failed to hold on.

Nicol fell for 61 to Prosper Utseya, before a tangled Martin Guptill was stumped down the legside off Ray Price, next ball. The wickets earned Zimbabwe momentary respite, but New Zealand were keen to maintain the tempo, with Jacob Oram getting promoted to No. 3 once again, and Brendon McCullum at the other end.