Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bowl first as their three-match one-day international series against New Zealand got underway at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

Fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara returned to the Zimbabwe line-up after overcoming a side strain that kept him out of the second half of India’s recent tour of the country.

New Zealand, playing the first ODI under the name of Aotearoa to celebrate Maori Language Week, handed a one-day debut to legspinner Ish Sodhi.

Kane Williamson captained the tourists, who rested Brendon McCullum and Tim Southee from the tour, and were without Trent Boult and Corey Anderson due to injury.

Teams

Zimbabwe: Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza Butt, Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva (wk), Graeme Cremer, Prosper Utseya, Tinashe Panyangara, Christopher Mpofu.

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Nathan McCullum, Matt Henry, Mitchell McClenaghan, Ish Sodhi.
Source: AFP