Nathan McCullum's spins it New Zealand's way

Nathan McCullum was the hero for New Zealand again, easing their way to the Super Eights with another display of quality offspin. After his all-round heroics against Sri Lanka on Friday, he swept through the Zimbabwe middle-order to collect his second successive Man-of-the-Match award.

He was less effective with the new ball than against Sri Lanka but more than made up with his second spell, and especially his ninth over, in which he snared three wickets with his loopy offbreaks. Elton Chigumbura slammed the first ball straight to long-on, Charles Coventry punched loosely back to the bowler two balls later, and Craig Ervine didn't get near the ball after charging out of the crease to be stumped off the final delivery. Zimbabwe had sunk to 63 for 6 and McCullum's strikes proved the killer blows.

It completes a dream few days for McCullum, who has been starved of chances with Daniel Vettori usually taking the specialist spinner's spot in New Zealand's side. He remained modest after finishing with 3 for 16: "It was another spinner-friendly surface. It's going to be different wickets further up in the country. Hopefully we can continue to do well."