Skipper Brendon Taylor slammed a blazing ton to guide New Zealand an easy victory over Zimbabwe

Capitalizing of being dropped on 48, the 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman plundered 119 off 88 balls with the help of seven boundaries and five sixes to power New Zealand 373-8 after they opted to bat.

The gargantuan target remained beyond tourists reach as they were skittled out for 171 in 44 overs.

Skipper Brendan Taylor (65) was the only batsman for Zimbabwe who showed some determination as five of their batsmen failed to advance into double-digits.

New Zealand VS Zimbabwe: Taylor, Taibu added 67 runs

Taylor, whose levelheaded 62-ball knock was laced with six boundaries and two sixes, added up 67 runs alongside Tatenda Taibu (26) for the third wicket.

Both were captured by substitute fielder Colin de Grandhomme, leaving the tourists reeling at 115-5.

The wickets continued to tumble like nine pins as no other Zimbabwean batsman was able to surpass 26-mark.
Earlier, Blackcaps openers Martin Guptill (85) and Rob Nicol (61) set the stage for a substantial total with a brisk 154-run opening stand before felling to spinners with the gap of three balls.

New Zealand VS Zimbabwe: Vitori became fourth most expensive ODI bowler

Guptill’s hit seven fours and five sixes in his blistering 69-ball knock while Nicol’s 63-ball knock saw six boundaries and two maximums.

Left-arm seamer Brian Vitori seeped out 105 off nine overs and now holds the fourth most awful figures in one-day history, behind Australian Mick Lewis’ 0-113 and a pair of Kiwis in Martin Snedden and Tim Southee who gave up 105 apiece.

New Zealand had win the opening match by 90 runs and the second by 141 runs.

Zimbabwe’s tour end after the two teams meet for two Twenty20 internationals, at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday and Seddon Park in Hamilton on February 14.

New Zealand VS Zimbabwe 3rd ODI Scorecard