New Zealand have dealt out another cricketing lesson to Zimbabwe, this time by 202 runs in the third and final ODI in Napier to complete a 3-0 series sweep.
The tourists were never a sniff of hauling in New Zealand's imposing 373-8, their third highest ODI total of all-time that was highlighted by 119 to Brendon McCullum, 85 to Martin Guptill and 61 to Rob Nicol.
Zimbabwe's pursuit of the total showed they had no belief in being able to achieve and they were always a long distance behind the asking rate and were eventually bowled out for 171 in 44 overs.
It could have been worse had captain Brendan Taylor not further confirmed his class in a 62-ball 65, while none of his team-mates managed in excess of 26.
It was the heaviest defeat of a series which saw New Zealand win the opening ODI by 90 runs and the second by 141 along with a crushing innings and 301-run defeat in the one-off Test in January.
The frustration is hidden away well by Taylor but he must be internally churning at the poor performances by his countrymen, especially in their fielding which has been at a level unacceptable for a lower-grade club side.
New Zealand's total could have, and should have been less than the 372-6 posted in the previous ODI at Whangarei. Put plainly and simply, Zimbabwe's fielding was atrocious.
Nothing could be taken away from McCullum's classy 88-ball innings, his fourth at ODI level, but he was dropped in a regulation chance by Regis Chakabva at long off when he was on 48.
McCullum took full toll from there. He needed 52 balls to reach a half-century then accelerated to score his next 50 in only 25 more, including four consecutive sixes.
Nicol was also spilled in a regulation chance when he was six, whilst also given out lbw before successfully reviewing it, and went on to score 61.
He put on 153 for the opening stand with Martin Guptill, who made his fifth ODI half-century in a row in scoring 85.
There were also cameos to Jacob Oram (25 off 24 balls), Kane Williamson (38 off 40) and Nathan McCullum (21 off 7), the latter hitting three sixes on the bounce.
McCullum was not the only centurion in the innings, the other an unwanted one on Zimbabwe's side.
Left-arm seamer Brian Vitori leaked 105 off nine scattergun overs and now holds the fourth worst figures in ODI history, behind Australian Mick Lewis' 0-113 and a pair of Kiwis in Martin Snedden and Tim Southee who gave up 105 each.
Spin duo Prosper Utseya (1-47) and Ray Price (2-59) stemmed the bleeding in the middle overs and in the end were the difference between 373 and an embarrassing total in excess of 400.
It was always going to be a bridge too far for Zimbabwe to overhaul the total, even if they had memories of a famous one-wicket victory in October when chasing down New Zealand's 328 in Bulawayo.
The only partnership of substance came between Taylor and Tatenda Taibu (26), putting on 67 for the third wicket. It was already game over before their brief defiance, however, at 14-2 after seven overs.
Taylor showed a capability of hitting over the top, striking six fours and two sixes before he became one of two smart catches to sub fielder Colin de Grandhomme –