Black Caps stay unbeaten in T20 Tri-Series with win over Zimbabwe
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MICHAEL BRADLEY
The Black Caps have remained unbeaten in cricket's T20 Tri-Series, being played in Harare, Zimbabwe.
They've beaten the hosts by eight wickets to secure their second straight win and move to the top of the table, ahead of the Zimbabweans and South Africa.
After winning the toss and sending Zimbabwe into bat, the Black Caps initially found getting breakthroughs tough, with openers Wessly Madhevere and Brian Bennett scoring 36 in the first five overs.
But after fast bowler Matt Henry claimed Bennett's wicket with the second ball of the sixth over, New Zealand started to get on top.
Henry, in particular, ended up shining, taking two more wickets, as he finished the best of the bowlers with three for 26 off his four overs.
Adam Milne, captain Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra claimed a wicket each, as they restricted Zimbabwe to just 120 for seven off their 20 overs.
And while New Zealand lost opener Tim Seifert early in their chase for just three, a solid partnership between Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra ensued to set up the victory.
Conway ended up scoring an unbeaten 59 off 40 balls, while Ravindra's 30 came from just 19 balls.
Daryl Mitchell helped seal the win with an unbeaten 26, as New Zealand finished 122 for two, easily chasing down the target with 39 balls to spare, with Conway named player of the match.
"It was nice again to contribute today to the win," Conway said.
"It's always nice to be one of those guys who stands out and puts their hands up and perform for the boys," he said.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Glenn Phillips has been withdrawn from the rest of the series and the upcoming two-test series against Zimbabwe, due to a groin injury.
New Zealand Cricket said Phillips suffered the injury during the Major League Cricket final in Dallas and needs "a number of weeks" to recover.
The Black Caps are already without batter Finn Allen, who was ruled out of the Tri-Series with a foot injury suffered in the MLC.
"It's obviously disappointing to lose someone of Glenn's calibre," head coach Rob Walter said.
"Much like Finn, we really feel for Glenn and that he misses out on this series.
"We know he was eager to get out on the field for the Blackcaps, and unfortunately, he won't be able to do that for this series.
"We know he'll work hard to get himself back onto the park, and I look forward to when that happens."
Phillips' replacement in the test squad will be named later, the NZC added.
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