Although Neesham and Nathan McCullum boosted the New Zealand total with an unbroken stand of 50 from 25 balls, Zimbabwe was on track to chase down the target when Hamilton Masakadza (57) and Chamu Chibhabha (32) put on 97 for the first wicket.
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Both the sides have won a game each of the first two ODIs.
New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson bats during the third and final One Day worldwide Cricket match against Zimbabwe in Harare, Friday, August 7, 2015.
Meanwhile, James Neesham, who missed the second ODI against Zimbabwe due to soreness, was fit for the third game.
The tourists were without key batsman Ross Taylor, who was ruled out of the remainder of their tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa when he suffered a blow to the groin in training on Thursday and required minor surgery. It was a slow and sedate start for New Zealand as they went to 28 for no loss after eight overs. Overall, this was New Zealand’s tenth win in the decider of a bilateral series after being level with the opposition. Will Zimbabwe comeback and win the series or will New Zealand maintain their momentum and seal the series?
The two teams will meet again at Harare Sports Club on Sunday for a one-off Twenty20 worldwide.
A team spokesman confirmed in a statement that Taylor’s African safari was over, and a replacement wouldn’t be summoned from New Zealand. Unlike every time, there would be no Taylor to fix the damage if New Zealand faced yet another batting collapse.
Williamson shared in half-century partnerships with Martin Guptill (42) and Grant Elliott (36). Within sight of his eighth ODI century he got under one that should have gone for six, but Ervine juggled and tiptoed around the long-on rope to hold a fine catch.
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Wickets at regular intervals began to hamper the home side’s progress, with only Sean Williams (63) and Ervine (32) showing any further resistance to the New Zealand attack.
