Taylor second century in vain as New Zealand win

For the second successive match, Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor hit an unbeaten century and finished on the losing side as New Zealand won the second One-day international by four wickets at Harare Sports Club on Saturday. Taylor made 107 not out off 105 balls with 12 fours and a six to enable Zimbabwe to reach 259 for eight. But in-form Martin Guptill hit a century of his own to secure victory for New Zealand.
Guptill, who made a hundred on debut against the West Indies in Auckland in January 2009, notched his second century in his 54th match. He made 105 off 121 balls and shared a second-wicket stand of 157 with Brendon McCullum which put New Zealand on course for an easy win before three wickets fell in quick succession to give the tourists some anxious moments.
McCullum struck 87 off 99 balls but was dropped four times, including a chance before he had scored. Brendan Taylor followed up his 128 not out in the first match at the same ground on Thursday, when New Zealand won by nine wickets, with another impressive innings, again having to battle through a difficult early period when the seam bowlers received some assistance from the pitch. Zimbabwe struggled against lively bowling from left-armer Andy McKay and the tall Oram and limped to 88 for four in the 25th over. Taylor then found an aggressive partner in Malcolm Waller, who hit 42 during a fifth wicket stand of 86 off 73 balls as the conditions became easier for batsmen.

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SCOREBOARD

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ZIMBABWE

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V. Sibanda c Oram b Aldridge           19

H. Masakadza c Williamson b McKay      20

B. Taylor not out                     107

T. Taibu b McKay                        2

F. Mutizwa c Franklin b Oram            6

M. Waller b McKay                      42

E. Chigumbura b McKay                  14

K. Meth c Nicol b Oram                 20

P. Utseya c McCullum b Oram             7

R. Price not out                        5

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Extras: (lb3, nb1, w13)                17

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Total: (8 wkts, 50 overs)             259

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Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-47, 3-53, 4-88, 5-169, 6-169, 7-238, 8-245
Bowling: Bracewell 10-1-48-0 (1w), Aldridge 10-1-45-1 (3w), McKay 10-0-53-4 (2w), Oram 10-0-48-3 (3w), Franklin 7-0-32-0 (1nb), Nicol 2-0-23-0 (1w), Williamson 1-0-7-0 (1w)
Did not bat: C. Mpofu.

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NEW ZEALAND

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R. Nichol c Mutizwa b Meth              9

M. Guptill b Waller                   105

B. McCullum c Sibanda b Meth           87

R. Taylor c Mutizwa b Utseya           11

K. Williamson not out                  14

B. Watling run out (Meth)              19

J. Franklin c Mutizwa b Mpofu           1

J. Oram not out                         4

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Extras: (lb3, w8)                      11

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Total: (6 wkts, 48.2 overs)           261

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Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-206, 3-222, 4-222, 5-253, 6-257
Bowling: Mpofu 7.2-0-49-1, Meth 10-1-52-2 (2w), Price 10-1-42-0, Utseya 10-0-53-1 (1w), Chigumbura 7-0-40-0, Masakadza 1-0-5-0 (1w), Waller 3-0-17-1
Did not bat: D. Bracewell, G. Aldridge, A. McKay
Result: New Zealand won by 4 wickets
Man of the match: Martin Guptill (NZL)
Series: New Zealand lead the three-match series 2-0
Toss: New Zealand
Umpires: Owen Chirombe (ZIM), Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
TV umpire: Jeremiah Matibiri (ZIM)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
Remaining match: October 25, Bulawayo.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2011