Kiwis beat Zimbabwe

WELLINGTON, JAN. 4. New Zealand ended its six-match losing streak in one-day cricket with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Zimbabwe here on Thursday. Its win, based on a much-improved bowling effort and a record opening stand of 153 between Nathan Astle and Mathew Sinclair, levelled the three-match series at one apiece, setting the stage for an intriguing final at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday.While Zimbabwe was clinical in its 70-run defeat of New Zealand at Taupo on Tuesday, the home side was equally efficient here as it overhauled the target of 236 for the loss of just two wickets and with 28 balls to spare. Astle and Sinclair's partnership set the platform for the run chase before the finishing touches were applied by a quickfire 48 off 33 balls by pinch-hitter Scott Styris.

All-rounder Styris hit four fours and two sixes and scored all but eight runs of the 56-run partnership for the second wicket.

Styris was bowled by legspinner Brian Murphy off the last ball of his 10-over allocation. Murphy was the pick of the tourists' bowler, taking one for 38.

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