New Zealand fell two runs short of eclipsing Sri Lanka's highest score in One-Day Internationals on Wenesday.
Put into bat by Zimbabwe in the first tri-series match, also involving India, at Bulawayo, the Kiwis, led by a fierce assault from Lou Vincent (172) and Stephen Fleming (93) finished at 397 for 5 in 44 overs.
The match was reduced by six overs each team due to damp pitch conditions.
New Zealand though finished with the highest scoring rate (9.02) in ODIs.
They can take consolation from the fact that Sri Lanka posted 398 for five from 50 overs, against Kenya at Kandy, during the 1996 Wills World Cup.
A look at the records missed and made during the match:
Highest Team totalsNew Zealand just missed the opportunity to become the first team to score 400 in ODIs. They needed 13 runs off the last over and later a four off the last ball. Their score is now the second highest in all ODIs
| Score | Teams | Venue | Date |
| 398-5 (50 Overs) | Sri Lanka v Kenya | Kandy | 06-03-1996 |
| 397-5 (44 Overs) | New Zealand v Zimbabwe | Bulawayo QSC | 24-08-2005 |
| 391-4 (50 Overs) | England v Bangladesh | Nottingham | 21-06-2005 |
| 376-2 (50 Overs) | India v New Zealand | Hyderabad Ind | 08-11-1999 |
| 373-6 (50 Overs) | India v Sri Lanka | Taunton | 26-05-1999 |
| 371-9 (50 Overs) | Pakistan v Sri Lanka | Nairobi Gym | 04-10-1996 |
| 363-7 (55 Overs) | England v Pakistan | Trent Bridge | 20-08-1992 |
| 363-3 (50 Overs) | South Africa v Zimbabwe | Bulawayo QSC | 23-09-2001 |
| 360-4 (50 Overs) | West Indies v Sri Lanka | Karachi | 13-10-1987 |
| 359-2 (50 Overs) | Australia v India | Johannesburg | 23-03-2003 |
| 359-5 (50 Overs) | Australia v India | Sydney | 08-02-2004 |
| 356-5 (50 Overs) | India v Pakistan | Visakhapatnam | 05-04-2005 |
| 354-3 (50 Overs) | South Africa v Kenya | Cape Town | 22-10-2001 |
| 353-5 (50 Overs) | India v New Zealand | Hyderabad Ind | 15-11-2003 |
| 351-3 (50 Overs) | India v Kenya | Paarl | 24-10-2001 |
Highest run-rates in an innings
New Zealand scored their runs at a rate of 9.02 runs per over which is the highest for any team in an innings of 25 or more overs. The details:
| RpO | Score | Overs | For | Vs | Venue | Date |
| 9.02 | 397-5 | 44.0 | NZ | Zim | Bulawayo QSC | 24-08-2005 |
| 8.32 | 219-1 | 26.2 | Pak | Ind | Lahore | 02-10-1997 |
| 8.17 | 245-6 | 30.0 | Ind | Zim | Singapore Kallang | 04-09-1999 |
| 7.96 | 398-5 | 50.0 | SL | Ken | Kandy | 06-03-1996 |
| 7.82 | 391-4 | 50.0 | Eng | BD | Nottingham | 21-06-2005 |
| 7.69 | 241-7 | 31.2 | Eng | SL | Leeds | 02-07-2002 |
| 7.68 | 197-2 | 25.4 | WI | Zim | Harare | 30-11-2003 |
| 7.64 | 191-6 | 25.0 | Pak | NZ | Singapore Kallang | 20-08-2000 |
| 7.64 | 252-3 | 33.0 | Pak | Ind | Lahore | 31-12-1982 |
| 7.52 | 376-2 | 50.0 | Ind | NZ | Hyderabad Ind | 08-11-1999 |
| 7.50 | 240-7 | 32.0 | SL | Eng | Leeds | 02-07-2002 |
Most Sixes in an innings
The 16 sixes hit by New Zealand are the maximum hit by a team during an innings in ODIs. Interestingly the previous record had come against New Zealand!
| 6s | Country | Vs | Venue | Date |
| 16 | New Zealand | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo QSC | 24-08-2005 |
| 15 | Australia | New Zealand | Christchurch | 26-02-2000 |
| 14 | Sri Lanka | Kenya | Kandy | 06-03-1996 |
| 14 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Singapore Kallang | 02-04-1996 |
| 14 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Nairobi Gym | 04-10-1996 |
| 13 | Pakistan | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo QSC | 24-11-2002 |
| 13 | New Zealand | USA | The Oval | 10-09-2004 |
| 12 | Pakistan | India | Lahore | 02-10-1997 |
