Nathan McCullum picked up his second consecutive man-of-the-match award as New Zealand strolled into the Super Eights stage of cricket's World Twenty20 Cup this morning.
McCullum, man-of-the-match in the first round victory over Sri Lanka at the weekend, backed that up with three wickets in an over against Zimbabwe today as New Zealand won the rain-affected match in Guyana by seven runs.
New Zealand's first match of the Super Eights will be against South Africa or India in Barbados on Friday at 5am (NZ time), followed by Pakistan, also in Barbados, at 1.30am Sunday (NZ time) and then England in St Lucia at 5.30am Tuesday (NZ time).
Zimbabwe were rolled for just 84 - the 12th-lowest total in Twenty20 international history - in 15.1 overs and New Zealand replied with 36 for one in 8.1 overs when the rain arrived to washout the remainder of the match, giving the Black Caps victory under the Duckworth-Lewis system.
Zimbabwe, who were eliminated from the tournament, made a bright start to be 58 for one in the seventh over before opener Hamilton Masakadza was run out for 20 courtesy of sharp work in the deep from Jacob Oram, sparking a collapse.
McCullum, who had opened the bowling, claimed three key scalps in one over - the ninth - with his off spin.
He had the dangerous Elton Chigumbura caught at long-on for three off the first ball. Charles Coventry was out for nought after offering a simple caught and bowled chance and off the over's last ball Craig Ervine (one) was stumped by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins.
Medium pacer Scott Styris then chimed in with three for five in two overs to effectively seal the result.
"We fought back well in the middle stages with Nathan and Scott Styris," said captain Daniel Vettori, who won the toss and took two for 10 himself.
"We knew it would be a difficult track to bat with Zimbabwe having so many spinners and we did well to come back in the middle overs."
Opener Tatenda Taibu top-scored with 21, a score that was pipped by New Zealand counterpart Brendon McCullum's unbeaten 22 off 26 balls, which included two fours. In the process, McCullum became the first player to bring up 1000 Twenty20 international runs.
Jesse Ryder fell for two and Martin Guptill was on six when the rain arrived.
Zimbabwe came into the tournament as one of the form teams after shocking Pakistan and Australia in the warm-ups but they struggled against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
"It is disappointing," said captain Prosper Utseya.
"We had a good start but we didn't play well in the middle. There is potential no doubt. But some guys have to mature as cricketers."
New Zealand qualify top from group B. After playing the West Indies, their other likely Super Eight opponents next week ahead of the semifinals are Pakistan and South Africa, depending on the outcome of pool matches.
All the Super Eight games are in Barbados and Nathan McCullum expected a change in approach would be needed.
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