New Zealand clinch series with a 38-run win in the 3rd ODI

New Zealand won the series 2-1

New Zealand have won the 3rd ODI of the series against Zimbabwe by 38 runs at the Harare Sports club. Zimbabwe won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat. With this win, the Kiwis have also clinched the closely fought three-match series.

For New Zealand, Kane Williamson was the leading scorer with a well deserved 90. This was the sixth consecutive half-century for Willamson. He featured in crucial partnerships with Martin Guptill(42) and Grant Elliot(36).

Setting the stage for some late hitting from James Neesham (37), playing in place of the injured Ross Taylor, and Nathan McCullum (25), who between themselves scored 50 runs in just 4.1 overs to push the score to 273. From Zimbabwe’s side, the duo of leg-spinner Graeme Cremer and off-spinner John Nyumbu scalped five wickets between them.

Zimbabwe had an excellent start with the openers, Hamilton Masakadza (57) and Chamu Chibhabha (32) putting up a 97-run stand before Chibhabha was dismissed by Williamson. After Masakadza’s dismissal, the Kiwi bowlers kept on taking regular wickets.

The only player who threatened the visitors was Sean Williams whose 62 ball 63 brought Zimbabwe closer to the target. But, once he got out in the 46th over, Kiwis quickly wrapped up the tail with18 balls to spare.