Craig Ervine s maiden century upstaged Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson s record-breaking exploits as Zimbabwe stunned New Zealand by seven wickets in the first one-day global at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
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Being put to bat first, New Zealand posted what may have been a promising total of 303 for 4 against the underdogs in their allotted 50 overs.
Taylor is second on the list for 2015 with 1,041 runs, having helped himself to 59 runs in the final 10 overs as New Zealand moved from 188 for three to their final score to set Zimbabwe a tall target.
The 24-year-old was dismissed for the fifth time in the nineties in ODI cricket when he chopped on aiming to dab Panyangara (2-50) down to third man in the 37th over, but Taylor and Grant Elliott (43 from 32) then thumped 79 runs from the next 57 balls.
Ervine, brother of Hampshire’s Sean, came to the crease with the hosts 74 for one chasing 304 for victory and got his side there with six balls to spare, with his unbeaten 130 off 108 deliveries containing 11 fours and five sixes.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura provided good support to Ervine, who accelerated his scoring rate as and when it was needed.
In reply, Zimbabwe made a solid start as openers Hamilton Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha (42) shared a 74-run partnership before the dismissal of the latter. Ervine and Masakadza added 120 runs for the third wicket. Taylor scored 112 runs whereas Williamson missed his century by three runs only.
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Ervine struck five sixes and 11 fours in a cavalier innings to secure a rare Zimbabwe victory which gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
