Zimbabwe, reeling from a humiliating innings-and-301-run defeat in a one-off Test in Napier last week, restored some pride to polish off the Black Caps' innings in the 48th over to set themselves an achievable target.

The tourists put New Zealand on the back foot with two early wickets and only opener Martin Guptill (70) managed to break the shackles before Masakadza mopped up the tail, finishing with four wickets for 46.

Kane Williamson (35), Nathan McCullum (30) and Andrew Ellis (33) all made starts but could not dig in on a green-tinged pitch that offered plenty of movement and limited the Black Caps' opportunities for partnerships.

Zimbabwe made a dream start when Rob Nicol flicked a Keegan Meth outswinger to the slips for a duck in the first over and his replacement Brendon McCullum (3) was trapped lbw by Kyle Jarvis three balls later.

Stand-in captain Brendon McCullum, taking over from the injured Ross Taylor, appealed to the third umpire but replays showed the ball clipping the top of off stump.

Guptill and Williamson steadied the home side, combining for an 88-run partnership at just under six runs an over before Williamson spooned the ball back down the wicket to Masakadza.

Guptill brought up his half century off 44 balls, including seven fours, but fell when a lapse in concentration saw him clean bowled by Elton Chigumbura.

Chigumbura struck again four overs later, enticing debutant Tom Latham into an attempted cover drive which edged to wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu.

Unlike the Napier Test, Zimbabwe maintained the pressure and were rewarded when a diving Dean Brownlie was run out for 19 after Regis Chakabva hit the stumps from side-on in a sharp piece of fielding, leaving the hosts on 166-6.