Amelia Kerr's career-best condemns Zimbabwe to 8-wicket defeat

Amelia Kerr returned her career-best figures of 7 for 34 to help New Zealand secure a comfortable 8-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI at the University Oval in Dunedin. It was only the seventh time in the history of women's cricket that a bowler had snapped seven wickets in an ODI.

Put in to bat, Zimbabwe had made a steady start, playing out the first 10 overs, even if the scoring rate was limited to 3.5. Kelly Ndhlovu was retired hurt, Modester Mupachikwa had ensured a fairly positive start. Molly Penfold provided the first breakthrough, in the 11th over, by cleaning up Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano. Penfold followed it up with a couple of more wickets in quick succession to leave the visitors reeling at 48 for 3.

Kerr ensured that her good work was well backed up. And from 18th over onwards took centrestage with her legspin. It began with cleaning up Chiedza Dhururu, and then having Mupachikwa stumped on 32.

As many as four batters were dismissed without scoring. The only resistance came from the ninth wicket pair of Audrey Mazvishaya and Tendai Makusha, who added 19 runs, as Zimbabwe managed to cross the 100-run mark due to their efforts, before being cleaned up for 102.

Kerr backed up her bowling efforts by stroking a breezy 40-ball 45 to lead New Zealand's charge in the chase. Izzy Gaze and Maddy Green provided the required support as New Zealand completed the chase in the 17th over, even as they lost both their openers in the process.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 102 in 29.1 overs (Modester Mupachikwa 32; Amelia Kerr 7-34, Molly Penfold 3-17) lost to New Zealand 106/2 in 16.2 overs (Amelia Kerr 45*) by 8 wickets