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New Zealand beat Zimbabwe to maintain perfect start in Tri-Nations series

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New Zealand made it two wins from two in the Tri-Nations Series eight-wicket victory over Zimbabwe on Friday.

Matt Henry and Devon Conway stole the show for the Black Caps as they continued their perfect start in Harare.

Zimbabwe posted just 120-7, but started fairly strongly through Wesley Madhevere (36) and Brian Bennett (21), though Henry (3-26) dismissed the latter early in the sixth over.

Clive Madande (eight) also fell before Adam Milne sent stumps flying to take Madhevere, leaving Zimbabwe on 71-3. 

They managed just 49 more runs, with Sikandar Raza (12), Ryan Burl (12) and Tony Munyonga (13) the only other players to hit double figures.

Zimbabwe were briefly given hope with the ball as Tim Seifert was caught for just three, though New Zealand, who were playing without Glenn Phillips – ruled out of the rest of the series with a groin injury – quickly wrestled back the momentum.

Conway's unbeaten 59 anchored their innings, with his knock including four boundaries and two maximums, as he put together two fifty-run partnerships with Rachin Ravindra (30) and Daryl Mitchell (29) to reach 122-2 with 37 balls remaining.

Data Debrief: Zimbabwe's struggles go on

Zimbabwe have lost the toss in both of their matches in the series so far and been asked to bat, which has not worked out in their favour.

And it was always going to be a tough ask against New Zealand, whom they have never beaten in a T20I match, with this their seventh such meeting.

Conway was largely responsible for New Zealand's dominance, as he reached his 11th T20I half-century.