Nicol inspires New Zealand

Martin Guptill: Lead the scoring for New Zealand with 70

Rob Nicol took four wickets for New Zealand

Rob Nicol made amends for his batting failure as he took four wickets in New Zealand's 90-run win over Zimbabwe in the first one-day international at Dunedin.

The hosts had to overcome early losses - not least that of opener Nicol for a duck - to post 248, with Martin Guptill top-scoring with 70.

It was a target Zimbabwe never looked likely to chase down, though, as their top three went for just 10 between them.

Nicol led the way with 4-19, while Kyle Mills took 3-26 as the tourists were bowled out for 158.

Stuart Matsikenyeri (one) was trapped leg before by Mills with just three runs on the board before opening partner Hamilton Masakadza was run out by Andrew Ellis while on seven.

Mills then removed Regis Chakabva as Nicol took the catch and already Zimbabwe looked on the brink of defeat.

Some resistance was provided by captain Brendan Taylor as he produced a 68-ball 58 - featuring eight fours and a six - but he found little in the way of support before being caught by Ellis off Nicol.

Tail-ender Ray Price managed an unbeaten 26 but ran out of partners, with Nicol taking another two scalps as well as his two catches.

Success

Earlier, having been put in to bat, New Zealand's innings got off to the worst possible start as Zimbabwe struck in the first over.

Nicol was deceived by late swing from Keegan Meth and could only edge to captain Taylor.

Zimbabwe wasted little time building on that success as Brendon McCullum followed in the very next over, the captain being trapped leg before wicket by Kyle Jarvis.

The Kiwis tried to steady themselves and Guptill (70) underpinned the resistance, with Kane Williamson adding 35 in a partnership of 88 for the third wicket.

Williamson fell caught and bowled to Shingi Masakadza and Guptill was the next to go, bowled by Elton Chigumbura.

There followed a spell of promising but largely frustrating contributions from Tom Latham (24), Dean Brownlie (19), Nathan McCullum (30) and Ellis (33) as the hosts finished 248 all out, Masakadza finishing with 4-46.