'Opening partnership was outstanding'

Ross Taylor and John Wright, New Zealand's captain and coach, have praised the exploits of their openers, Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum, who secured a 2-0 victory in the Twenty20 series in Zimbabwe with century opening partnerships.

"The opening partnership was outstanding," Taylor said. "To get over 100 two games in a row sets a benchmark. Brendon and 'Guppy' [Guptill] batted sensibly and complemented each other very well."

Guptill and Taylor added 127 in 13.3 overs to secure a ten-wicket win in the first T20 and then put on 120 in 11.1 overs in the second to help New Zealand post 187 in 18 overs.

"Both Brendon and Guppy have played really, really well," Wright said. "It's an ideal opportunity in this country, because the batting conditions are very good. Their stroke play has been encouraging. We haven't had a lot of batting outside the top three, but that will address itself in the 50-over format."

Guptill, who scored 40 and 67 in the two T20s, had spent New Zealand's off-season with Derbyshire and he said there was no rustiness because he had been in touch with the game. "I played a lot of cricket when I was over there [Derbyshire] so there was no stiff legs after the first game so that was quite handy,'' Guptill told the New Zealand Herald. "We started off very well in the first Twenty20 and to back it up with a batting and bowling performance like that [in the second T20] is very pleasing.''

New Zealand will begin the one-day leg of their tour of Zimbabwe in Harare on October 20.