AP, Harare :Craig Ervine blasted Zimbabwe to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the first one-day international on Sunday.His 130 not out took the host to its target of 304 with an over to spare for an early lead in the three-match series – a rare second straight win for Zimbabwe after it beat India in a Twenty20 game recently.Left-hander Ervine’s match-winning innings against New Zealand was his first ODI century. His 130 came off just 108 balls and was punctuated by 11 fours and five sixes.Zimbabwe scored 304-3 at Harare Sports Club after New Zealand had posted 303-4, with 112 not out from Ross Taylor and 97 from stand-in captain Kane Williamson.Zimbabwe opener Hamilton Masakadza started the chase strongly, making 84. Ervine then took over, reaching his maiden one-day hundred off 99 balls.Facing 16 to win off the last two overs, it was still a tricky chase for Zimbabwe. But Ervine and Sean Williams took 15 off seam bowler James Neesham in the second-last over, with Ervine carving a four and a six over midwicket off the last two balls.Ervine had leveled the scores with his big six and Zimbabwe won when Nathan McCullum bowled a wide first delivery of the final over.McCullum was New Zealand’s only wicket taker with 3-62.New Zealand had set a big target and appeared on course for victory after Taylor’s 16th ODI century and his 137-run partnership with Williamson, who is standing in for Brendon McCullum as captain.New Zealand is warming up in Zimbabwe ahead of a limited-overs tour of South Africa later this month. The second one-dayer is on Tuesday.
