It was a contestable point whether captain Elton Chigumbura made the right decision.
After all, Zimbabwe had won the first ODI electing to send New Zealand in and chase down 303 so it must have been tempting to stick with the routine that had worked two days earlier.
The only other batsmen to make a contribution were lively opener Chamu Chibhabha with a brisk 42, and Sean Williams, who added 60 with Raza for the sixth wicket.
New Zealand's bowling, problematic in the first ODI, was better, with hostility from Mitchell McClenaghan, tidy work from medium pacer Grant Elliott and offspinner Nathan McCullum and a good return for legspinner Ish Sodhi, who finished with three for 38 off his 10 overs.
He might have been a touch fortunate to get an lbw decision against wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva, when the ball might have missed leg stump, but removed Chibhabha with a tasty delivery which spun sharply to leave the batsman stranded down the pitch.
Less impressive was New Zealand's fielding. Sodhi and Colin Munro - replacing Jimmy Neesham in the only change from the opening ODI -- slipped up badly off the luckless McClenaghan, which cost two boundaries, and substitute fielder Ben Wheeler spilling a regulation catch at cover off captain Kane Williamson, when Raza was on 67.
Balancing that was a clever piece of work by Martin Guptill to run out Williams when the batsman was sent back after a mixup.
