By James Bennett
Zimbabwe saved their best for last in the second twenty20 international against the Blackcaps in Hamilton.
New Zealand rested star opener batsmen Martin Guptill with skipper Brendon McCullum having up to 10 bowlers at his disposal, and those bowlers were put to the sword.
The last time Zimbabwe beat the Blackcaps Guptill was not playing.
The Zimbabwean openers found the middle of the bat, blasting 50 off the first five overs, forcing captain McCullum to turn to spin.
Hamilton Masakadza kept on swinging before hitting out for 62. His fifty off 26 balls Zimbabwe’s quickest ever in their twenty20 history, but his departure did not slow the scoring.
Elton Chigumbura and Brendan Taylor piling it on taking the score past 150 with ease.
The Blackcaps bowlers never found their length while the Africans applied the blowtorch. Shigumbura dropped off the second to last ball as Zimbabwe reached 200, Taylor top scoring with 74 not out.
James Franklin was elevated to open but it was partner Rob Nicol clearing the ropes early; the Blackcaps 46 without loss after five overs before Franklin followed suit.
Nicol hit his way past 50 before going after one too many.
With the game in the balance at 103 for 1 McCullum strolled to the middle and along with Franklin things looked on track until a moment of running madness.
Franklin gone for 60 and Colin de Grandhomme was not far behind and when the McCullum brothers went in consecutive balls it looked Zimbabwe’s game, but no one told Kane Williamson who made light work off the 14 needed from the final over.
Williamson getting the Blackcaps home to a five wicket win and series clean sweep, just.
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