New Zealand Level Series With Easy Win

New Zealand Level Series With Easy Win

Daniel Vettori led the way with four for 20 for New Zealand.

©Action Images / Paul Harding Livepic

New Zealand levelled their One Day International series with the West Indies at 1-1 after a comprehensive seven-wicket win in the third match in Wellington.

The West Indies were bowled out for 128 in 41.4 overs and the Black Caps raced to their target for the loss of three wickets in just 20.3 overs.

After being asked to bat, the West Indies lost three crucial wickets early on and never recovered from being 35 for three after 10 overs.

Kyle Mills bowled particularly well for New Zealand picking up Xavier MArshall (0) and Chris Gayle (18) while Tim Southee accounted for Ramanesh Sarwan (5) in bowler friendly conditions.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, passed fit after missing the first two games with a hand injury, showed just how badly he had been missed with a gutsy knock of 45 as he tried desperately rebuild the innings and he was the ninth man to fall with the score on 101, trapped in front by Jesse Ryder.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori led from the front yet again to pick up four for 20, running through the lower order to get rid of Denesh Ramdin (1), Kieron Pollard (1), Jerome Taylor (4) and Daren Powell (1) before some late hitting by Nikita Miller (25 not out) and Fidel Edwards (13) saw the tourists add 27 for the final wicket.

128 never looked enough and although New Zealand lost three wickets themselves early on, they were able to build a partnership when it mattered, Ross Taylor (51 not out) and Daniel Flynn (23 not out) putting on 89 for the unbroken third wicket.

Daren Powell (3-20) was the only West Indian to take a wicket, removing Jesse Ryder (14), Brendon McCullum (18) and Jamie How (0) to give the tourists some hope early on.

Taylor was in excellent form, crashing five fours and three sixes to hurry the home side to victory.

Sewnarine Chattergoon and Brendan Nash made way for Chanderpaul and Shawn Findlay, who was bowled by Tim Southee for just 8. New Zealand made no changes from the team that lost in Christchurch.

The remaining two matches take place in Auckland and Napier on January 10th and 13th respectively.

© Cricket World 2009