A century to New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has set Zimbabwe a target of 374 in their third and final one-day cricket international in Napier.

McCullum was dismissed off the final ball of the innings for 119, his fourth ODI ton, as the Black Caps finished on 8-373 at McLean Park on Thursday.

The wicketkeeper-batsman faced 88 balls and smacked seven fours and five sixes in his whirlwind innings.

New Zealand are seeking a 3-0 sweep in the series and another century partnership from openers Martin Guptill and Rob Nicol laid the foundation for a big total.

The pair put on 153 to go with their 131-run stand in game two in Whangarei, when the home side ended on a similar score of 6-372.

Their breezy start, after McCullum won the toss and chose to have first use of a good batting wicket, progressed at a rate of almost seven runs an over.

Nicol, a century-maker in Whangarei, had a let-off at 10 when a skied catch he offered was spilled by Tinotenda Mawoyo at square leg.

He got to 61, which included two towering sixes, when he was trapped leg before by spinner Prosper Utseya.

Guptill departed the very next ball, stumped off a wide from left-arm spinner Ray Price.

His 85 was his third half-century of the series and came from 69 balls. Like McCullum, he hit seven fours and five sixes.

Zimbabwe were able to slow down the scoring during the middle stages of the innings, before McCullum, batting at No.4, picked up the pace.

He had a life on 48 when Regis Chakabva spilled a regulation catch at long-off.

There was also a stutter when Andrew Ellis was run out as he tried to make it home for the second run that would have got his captain to three figures.

McCullum made no mistake the next ball, driving to long off for a single.

He continued to push the scoring along before holing out with one final slog.