The New Zealand cricket coach John Wright has blasted the side's bowling and fielding performance after the Black Caps' tense one-wicket loss to Zimbabwe in the third and final one-dayer in Bulawayo.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat the Black Caps amassed an impressive total of 328 for five on the back of centuries from captain Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson.
The lofty target was more than enough for the Black Caps bowlers to protect but a tepid performance with the ball allowed the hosts to reach 329 for victory with just one wicket and one ball to spare.
The Black Caps still won the series 2-1, but Wright says it should have been a whitewash.
Wright concedes inexperience played a part in the bowlers' failure to keep the Zimbabwean batsman under wraps, but says that's no excuse for the loss.
The Black Caps now turn their attention to the one-off Test against the hosts starting in Bulawayo next Tuesday.
