Nicol century as N.Z. thrash Zimbabwe in ODI cricket

Opener Rob Nicol made the fifth highest one-day international score by a New Zealand batsman Monday as his side beat Zimbabwe by 141 runs in the second one-day international in Whangarei. The victory at Cobham Oval, following the 90-run win in the first ODI, gave New Zealand an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and follows the overwhelming innings and 301-run rout of Zimbabwe in their one-off Test. Nicol's man-of-the-match 146 off 134 balls was the rock upon which New Zealand built a comprehensive 372 for six before Jacob Oram led a bowling attack that restricted Zimbabwe to 231 for eight. It was Nicol's second century in only his fifth ODI and he was supported by 77 from fellow opener Martin Guptill, and boundary-bashing cameos from Oram (59 off 28 deliveries) and 19-year-old Tom Latham (48 off 28). New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said it was close to being a complete performance. "I thought 370 on the board was outstanding and I thought the boys bowled brilliantly at the start of the innings as well," he said. "It was quite hard to bowl them out when they were not looking to score as well so I thought the bowling was very, very good and I thought the batting was absolutely outstanding." Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor, who won the toss and chose to bowl first, admitted his team "were outplayed by a much better side again. "I just hope my boys try and look at how the Blackcaps go about their business and try and replicate that -- not skill wise but body language." After rain delayed the start of play for 35 minutes, New Zealand made a cautious start with two maiden overs before Nicol opened the scoring with an unorthodox slog which resulted in a top edge over slips for four. But from there his innings was near faultless, as he stood in a 131-run partnership with Guptill, then a 77-run stand with all-rounder Oram who was promoted up the order. Nicol was particularly belligerent in the closing stages. He was in a 92-run partnership in eight overs with Latham for the fifth wicket before he was caught at deep midwicket by Shingi Masakadza off Prosper Utseya. Utseya was the most successful of the Zimbabwe bowlers, taking three for 71 off his 10 overs in an innings where the tourists were made to pay dearly for fielding lapses. Oram, McCullum (20 off 18) and Latham all survived catching chances and collectively added 64 runs before being dismissed. Faced with a daunting target, Zimbabwe were in early trouble with the wicket of Hamilton Masakadza in the second over starting a collapse that saw them at 62 for five in the 20th over. Tatenda Taibu and Elton Chigumbura steadied the innings by putting on 80 runs for the sixth wicket before Nicol capped his stellar day by dismissing Taibu for 50. Chigumbura followed soon after for 63, bowled by Oram leaving Utseya, unbeaten on 27, and Shingi Masakadza who made 38 off 31 deliveries, to show their was some fight in the Zimbabwe tail. Oram was the most successful New Zealand bowler, taking three for 29 off his 10 overs to go with his half century with the bat. The final ODI is in Napier on Thursday, which will be followed by two Twenty20 fixtures to round off the Zimbabwe tour.