New Zealand advanced to the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup beating Zimbabwe by seven runs in Duckworth Lewis method in yet another rain-affected encounter at Gros Islet yesterday; Chasing a small target of 85, New Zealand reached 36 for 1 m 8.1 overs when rain stooped play. Brendon McCullum was not out on 22 with other batsman Martin Guptill on 6. As the game never started again due to wet conditions, the Kiwis were awarded a seven-run victory in Duckworth Lewis method. Two losses in two matches sees Zimbabwe exit the tournament empty-handed.

New Zealand's Nathan McCullum took three wickets for one run in an over as Zimbabwe collapsed to 84 all out.

Zimbabwe made a relatively sound start to be 58 for one in the seventh over when opener Hamilton Masakadza was run out.

Andy Blignaut followed soon afterwards, bowled trying to slog sweep Kiwi captain and left-arm spinner DanielVettori.

And any hope of a Zimbabwe fightback was then wrecked by a dramatic ninth over, McCullum's third.

The off-spinner had the dangerous Elton Chigumbura (three), caught at long-on off the over's first ball.

Two balls later, Charles Coventry was out for nought offering a simple caught and bowled chance after being beaten in the flight by a slower delivery.

And off the over's last ball Craig Ervine (one), drawn out of his crease and then beaten by a ball that dipped and turned, was stumped by Gareth Hopkins, keeping wicket in this match rather than McCullum's younger brother Brendon, playing as a batsman only.

Zimbabwe, who'd been 62 for three at the start of the over, were 63 for six when it finished.

Medium-pacer Scott Styris followed up with three wickets for five runs in two overs to compound the damage.

TatendaTaibu top-scored with 21, with only fellow opener Masakadza also making it to 20. Greg Lamb was 14 not out, with 11 extras the fourth best score of the innings.

SCORES IN BRIEF

ZIMBABWE: 84 all out in 15.1 overs (Taibu 21, Masakadza 20, Coventry 14; Styris 3-5, N. McCullum 3-16)

NEW ZEALAND: 36 for 1 in 8.1 overs (B. McCullum 22 not out, Guptill 6 not out; Utseya 1-21)

Result: New Zealand won by 7 runs (D/L method)

Man-of-the-match: Nathan McCullum