We need to mature as cricketers: Zimbabwe skipper

New Zealand qualified for the second round Super Eights of the World Twenty20 with a seven-run victory over Zimbabwe in a rain-shortened match yesterday.

And Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya said the loss has shown that his team needs to mature as cricketers.
"It is disappointing," said Utseya. "We had a good start but we didn't play well in the middle. There is potential no doubt. But some guys have to mature as cricketers."

Zimbabwe got off to a great start and lost Tatenda Taibu with the score on 36 after 4.4 overs. But then they fell like nine pins and were bundledo ut for 84.

The Black Caps were ahead of the par score they required under the Duckworth-Lewis method when rain cut short their reply at 36 for one in 8.1 overs and meant no further play was possible.

Off-spinner Nathan McCullum took three wickets for 16 runs, including three for one in an over, and medium-pacer Scott Styris three for five in two overs as Zimbabwe collapsed in spectacular fashion.

"We fought back well in the middle stages with Nathan and Scott Styris," said New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who won the toss and fielded.

"We knew it would be a difficult track to bat with Zimbabwe having so many spinners and we did well to come back in the middle overs."

Any hope of a Zimbabwe fightback were also wrecked by a dramatic ninth over, McCullum's third.

The bowler who'd starred by hitting the winning six in New Zealand's opening two-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, had the dangerous Elton Chigumbura (three), caught at long-on off the over's first ball.

Two balls later, Charles Coventry was out for nought offering a simple caught and bowled chance after being beaten in the flight by a slower delivery.

And off the over's last ball Craig Ervine (one), drawn out of his crease and then beaten by a ball that dipped and turned, was stumped by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins.

u00a0