Opener Rob Nicol made the fifth highest one-day international score by a New Zealand batsman yesterday as his side beat Zimbabwe by 141 runs in the second one-day international in Whangarei.

The victory at Cobham Oval, following the 90-run win in the first ODI, gave New Zealand an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and follows the overwhelming innings and 301-run rout of Zimbabwe in their one-off Test.

Nicol's man-of-the-match 146 off 134 balls was the rock upon which New Zealand built a comprehensive 372 for six before Jacob Oram led a bowling attack that restricted Zimbabwe to 231 for eight.

It was Nicol's second century in only his fifth ODI.