BRENDON McCullum smashed a typically belligerent half-century as New Zealand cruised to a 10-victory over Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 international in Harare. Chasing Zimbabwe’s total of 123 for eight, McCullum clubbed an unbeaten 81 from just 46 deliveries, while his opening partner Martin Guptill added a more sedate 40 not out as New Zealand strolled home with more than six overs remaining.
The big-hitting McCullum finished the game with a six off Ray Price – the opener’s sixth of the innings – while he also added five other boundaries in recording his seventh T20 fifty.
McCullum survived one let-off when on 24 he was dropped by home captain Brendan Taylor off Elton Chigumbura, and he made the home side pay dearly as New Zealand easily won the first of the two T20 internationals.
Guptill proved the perfect foil for his team-mate, although he also had a life on 23 when he was dropped by Malcolm Waller at long-on.
Earlier, Taylor scored an unbeaten 50 from 46 deliveries to help Zimbabwe stage a recovery after Kyle Mills, who finished with impressive figures of two for 15 off his four overs, had sent back both openers Hamilton Masakadza (nine) and Chamu Chibhabha (nine) early on.
However, Taylor received little support from his team-mates, with the next-highest score being Forster Mutizwa’s 16, as Zimbabwe set a moderate victory target which posed no problem to McCullum and Guptill.