Harris, who hit a quickfire, unbeaten 37 off 22 balls, and debutant Alex Tait lifted New Zealand from the brink of defeat to post a remarkable five-wicket win to progress in the opening match of the tournament.

New Zealand, chasing Zimbabwe's 258 for seven, looked up against it at 219 for five in the 47th over when the sixth-wicket pair of Harris and Tait turned the match around with a unbeaten 44-run stand.

They took 18 off seamer Neil Johnson's 48th over and another eight in the next off Heath Streak to leave themselves needing 14 in the final over.

Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell, who scored a century earlier in the day, deliberated with his team-mates before entrusting newcomer Johnson with the last six deliveries.

Johnson, who qualified for Zimbabwe last month after migrating from South Africa, did his team's chances no good by bowling a no-ball first up which gave two runs to their rivals.

Harris and Tait took nine runs off the next five deliveries, before the former drove the final ball to the cover fence to signal New Zealand's heart-stopping win.

New Zealand's 13th win in 17 one-dayers against Zimbabwe set up a tough quarter-final clash against World Cup champions Sri Lanka on Monday in the knockout tournament featuring the nine Test-playing nations.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, will undertake a tiring journey home after just one match, having done well initially to restrict New Zealand early in the innings despite a stubborn 96 from captain Stephen Fleming and his fourth-wicket stand of 125 with Adam Parore (52).

The pair failed to force the pace, and by the time Fleming fell in the 45th over, bowled by Andrew Whittall, New Zealand were still 54 runs away from victory.

The unexpected reverse stunned Campbell, who had led from the front with a brilliant innings of 100, his third one-day century.