New Zealand Take Wet Series Win Despite Gayle Ton

New Zealand 212-5 (Taylor 48no, Powell 3-66) beat
West Indies 293-9 (Gayle 135, Chanderpaul 94) by 9 runs (D/L)

Fifth One Day International, Napier - New Zealand take the series 2-1
By Aaron Kumar

New Zealand won the fifth and final rain-affected One Day International against the West Indies by nine runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method in Napier.

Chris Gayle hit a century and Shivnarine Chanderpaul narrowly missed out as the West Indies posted 293 for nine after winning the toss and choosing to bat but when the rain hit, New Zealand were 211 for five after 35 overs, which left them the victors.

Kyle Mills provided the home team with the perfect start when he bowled Sewnarine Chattergoon for one to leave the West Indies one for one in the third over.

Ramnaresh Sarwan replaced fellow Guyanese Chattergoon at the wicket, Sarwan and Gayle set about rebuilding the West Indies innings, and the West Indies were 43 for one after ten overs.

Gayle brought up the West Indies' 50 when he flicked Mills to the fine leg boundary in the 13th over.

Sarwan never really looked totally comfortable at the crease and he was dismissed when he mistimed a pull shot and was caught for 22 by Grant Elliott off the bowling of Mark Gillespie to leave the West Indies 73 for two in the 17th over.

Gayle brought up the West Indies hundred in the 26th over with a huge six over mid-wicket off the bowling of Jesse Ryder.

Chanderpaul and Gayle then put on a stand of 170 - the partnership started of in a quiet fashion but in the last 15 overs of the West Indies innings, the duo were playing a shot a ball, with Chanderpaul even hitting a huge reverse sweep for six of the bowling of Daniel Vettori.

Gayle smashed five sixes in his innings of 135 from 129 balls, while Chanderpaul scored 94 from 91 balls.

The pair were dismissed shortly before the end of the innings but some lusty hitting from Kieron Pollard (19 off eight balls) with two towering sixes over mid-wicket propelled the West Indies to an imposing total of 293 for nine from their 50 overs.

Gayle's 19th ODI century came off 110 balls before he accelerated to finish on 135 from 129 balls with nine fours and five sixes while Chanderpaul hit nine fours and one six in his 53rd ODI half-century.

New Zealand made a positive start to their run chase, as they had to if they were to have any chance of taking the win and Jesse Ryder (21) and Brendon McCullum (41) added 59 in just 5.3 overs.

Martin Guptill continued to look at home in international cricket with 43 in 39 balls and although Daren Powell (3-66) had Daniel Flynn (21) and Neil Broom (0) dismissed in quick succession, New Zealand had enough runs in the bag when the rain ended the match.

Ross Taylor was unbeaten on 48 alongside Grant Elliott on 14.

© Cricket World 2009