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St Kitts: An under-strength New Zealand side pulled off a superb 88-run victory in the third of their five match one-day series with the West Indies on Wednesday.
It marks a crucial victory for New Zealand as it narrows the West Indies lead to 2-1 in the ODIs, keeping the series alive.
The Blackcaps showed massive improvement with the bat in the first innings and ensured that the home side would have their work cut out for them needing 250 to win.
In reply the West Indies looked like they might get off to yet another flying start, but debutant Trent Boult brought an end to this, picking up Johnson Charles leg before wicket for 15.
If that was considered a big wicket then the next one can only be described as huge and may prove to be the turning point in the Blackcaps series.
Tim Southee, bowling at first change, managed to find the long lost edge of Chris Gayle and Rob Nicol at first slip did the rest.
His dismissal for just 11 put an unknown pressure on the rest of the West Indies batting line-up and the Kiwis took full advantage.
Oram soon captured the wicket of Dwayne Smith and two spectacular pieces of fielding soon had their Caribbean opponent’s run chase in tatters.
Firstly a slick bit of fielding in the deep from Southee saw Dwayne Bravo regretting an attempt at an ambitious third run, before Martin Guptill threw down the wickets in an unbelievable piece of fielding at cover to dismiss Marlon Samuels.
It only continued to get better for the New Zealand, with Nathan McCullum claiming the last of the renowned batsmen in Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy.
Andre Russell cleared the boundary with some impressive power hitting late on, but it was to no avail with the West Indies all out for 161 after 34.3 overs.
It was an outstanding effort in the field by the New Zealanders, effecting three run-outs. Jacob Oram finished the pick of the bowlers with figures of two for 22 from seven overs.
Earlier, the visitors had shown bowling wasn’t the only area they had made a vast improvement in.
Despite losing Guptill early for 11, the Kiwis made a bright start with Rob Nicol and Daniel Flynn taking the score through to 71 after 13.3 overs.
The partnership was broken by Bravo who enticed Flynn to swipe at a wide delivery, inducing an outside edge to send him on his way for 28.
Captain Kane Williamson was bowled by Narine for nine before Tom Latham (12) handed Gayle his 100th catch for the West Indies when he scooped a Darren Sammy delivery to mid-wicket.
Opener, Rob Nicol looked to be in good touch before he was undone by spinner Marlon Samuels who had him caught and bowled for the team’s top score of 59.
BJ Watling once again looked assured at the crease but unfortunately suffered a leg injury that hampered his progress. The wicket-keeper batsman strained his left quadricep when on five runs, but battled through the pain before being dismissed for 40.
Nathan McCullum fought hard but lost Jacob Oram (7) and Kyle Mills (1), before finding a willing partner in Tim Southee.
The pair put on useful runs towards the end of the innings with McCullum eventually caught on the boundary for 50, while Southee struck an unbeaten 17.
At the end of the innings the NZ had managed a total of 249 for nine.
New ball bowler Andre Russell took four for 57, but it was Sunil Narine’s figures of two for 28 that were the most impressive.
Luckily for the NZ it wouldn’t be enough. They get a chance to level the series on Sunday.
Brief scores
New Zealand 249 for 9 (Nicol 59, McCullum 50, Russell 4-57)
West Indies 161 (Russell 42*)
Result New Zealand won by 88 runs
MOM Rob Nicol (New Zealand)
