New BLACKCAPS Doug Bracewell and Rob Nicol starred in the nine wicket ODI win over Zimbabwe in Harare.
Zimbabwe put on 231 for six after opting to bat first with the BLACKCAPS losing just the one wicket in the run chase.
Debutant Bracewell ripped through the Zimbabwe top order with three early wickets, along with a screaming catch from Kane Williamson off the bowling of James Franklin, helped reduce the home side to 21 for four.
Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor steadied the ship and along with Forster Mutizwa went about rebuilding the innings. The pair put on 156 for the fifth wicket, a Zimbabwe record against New Zealand, to carry their team to 231 for six.
Mutizwa was out for 69 but Taylor continued on hitting a number of big sixes at the end of the innings to finish 128 not out.
Bracewell took a bit of tap towards the end of the innings to finish with three for 55 while James Franklin took two for 37.
Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill continued the theme of the tour with another massive opening stand, this time putting on 153 before the partnership was broken.
Guptill eventually holed out on 74 but Nicol, in his first match, continued on to finish unbeaten on 108.\
Brendon McCullum, batting at number three, chipped in with 39 not out as the BLACKCAPS reached 232 in the 44th over.
The second One Day International is on Saturday 22 October, 8.30pm (NZ time).
