Taylor, Williamson punish Zimbabwe bowlers

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Oct 25 (AFP): Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson hit centuries as New Zealand piled up 328 for five in the third and final one-day international against New Zealand at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday. Taylor (119) and Williamson (100 not out) shared a fifth-wicket stand of 195 off only 133 balls that turned what seemed likely to be a respectable total into an imposing one, adding 164 runs in the final 15 overs. Zimbabwe made a good start by claiming the first three wickets for 41 runs, with bustling fast bowler Njabulo Ncube taking two wickets in his first spell in international cricket. New Zealand captain Taylor made a cautious start, taking 83 balls to reach his half-century, as he and Jesse Ryder (53) launched a recovery with a fourth-wicket stand of 83. The tempo increased rapidly when Williamson joined Taylor, who went to his sixth one-day international century off 115 balls. Williamson was in superb form and reached his second hundred off 69 deliveries, scoring seven runs off the final two balls of the innings. Zimbabwe gave new caps to Ncube and leg-spinner Natsai M'shangwe and both impressed in their first spells before wilting as Taylor and Williamson went on the rampage. Ncube took two for 28 in an opening spell of six overs but then conceded 41 runs off his next 2.5 overs before being ordered out of the attack in the final over after bowling a second high full toss. New Zealand R. Nicol c Sibanda b Ncube 14 B. McCullum c Mutizwa b Ncube 18 R. Taylor b Ncube 119 J. Ryder c and b Waller 53 K. Williamson not out 100 N. McCullum not out 1 Extras: (lb6, nb 2, w15) 23 Total: (5 wkts, 50 overs) 328