New Zealand Cruise Home To A Comfortable Win
West Indies were dumbfounded by a confident New Zealand side as they cruised to a comfortable seven wicket win in the third One Day International played at Wellington. The victory has now leveled the series with both teams having one win each.
New Zealand managed to wreck through the West Indian batting lineup with the team posting up only 129 runs on the board. The Kiwis chased the target in 20.3 overs at the loss of only three wickets.
The three top order Kiwi batsmen were knocked over by Daren Powell who managed to deliver a spell bounding first spell of four overs with three wickets conceding only 11 runs. Ross Taylor got his fifty with a six that he sent back into the stands and an unbeaten 23 by Daniel Flynn secured the victory for the Black Caps.
The only big concern for the Black Caps is the condition of Jacob Oram who was seen leaving the field due to a troubling Achillies injury. He bowled only two overs in the match.
New Zealand was led from the front by their spin bowler captain Daniel Vettori who picked up four wickets for just twenty runs in his ten over spell. Tim Southee and Kyle Mills picked up two wickets each whereas Jesse Ryder picked up the prized wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Jeetan Patel also managed to pick up one wicket.
The touring side was on top of the game from the very start as Mills managed to get Xavier Marshal to chip one to the wicket keeper for a duck. Kyle Mills also dismissed West Indian power house Chris Gayle for just 18 while Tim Southee got Ramnaresh Sarwan out for 5. The only real fight was put up by Chanderpaul who got out for a fighting 45 in the 34th over. This was Chanderpaul’s first match after returning from a serious hand injury.
With the dismissal of Chanderpaul West Indies faced the danger of breaking their all time low score of 123 against New Zealand. They were saved thanks to the nine wicket partnership of 21 runs between Nikita Miller and Fidel Edwards.
New Zealand lost their opening batsmen to successive deliveries by Powell who almost managed to get a hat trick. Powell picked up his third wicket when he managed to get How hook one up to Taylor at square leg for a duck. This was about all the damage that the West Indians could do to the Black Caps who cruised home to a comfortable win.