05 March,2011 06:26 AM IST | | Agencies
The Kiwis skittled out Zimbabwe for 162 before racing to the target in 33.3 overs to seal an emphatic 10-wicket victory at the Sardar Patel Stadium yesterday.
Martin Guptill (right) and Brendon McCullum during their 166-run
partnership for the first wicket . Pic/AFP
"This is the performance we were looking for," said Vettori. "We now need to replicate it against the bigger nations." Vettori admitted their batting had been a concern going into the match against Zimbabwe. "We thought long and hard about batting long. Brendon (McCullum) and Martin (Guptill) stood up and gave no one else an opportunity to bat, that was great."
McCullum (86) and Guptill (76) plundered runs at will to post the highest opening partnership of the tournament so far. Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura was devastated by the huge defeat. "It was very disappointing from ball one to the end," he said. The New Zealandu00a0 team is coached by John Wright
