Skipper Daniel Vettori took four cheap scalps as New Zealand crushed the West Indies by seven wickets to level the one-day series at 1-1 yesterday.
Vettori finished with 4-20 from 10 overs in the third of the five-match series after the hosts skittled the West Indies for 128 in 41.4 overs at Westpac Stadium.
New Zealand initially stuttered in the run-chase, losing the wickets of Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Jamie How in the space of six runs to be 40 for three after 7.2 overs.
PHOTO: AFP
But Ross Taylor made an unbeaten 51 off 50 balls including five fours and three sixes, supported by Daniel Flynn’s 23 not out in an 89-run partnership that propelled New Zealand to 129 in just 20.3 overs.
missed chances
The pair started shakily with two difficult catching chances missed and an unsuccessful caught-behind appeal off Taylor, where replays suggested the ball may have brushed his glove on the way through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
But they settled into a solid partnership which stood in contrast to the rash shot-making of the first three batsmen and most of the West Indies lineup.
Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul showed any serious resistance with 45 in the West Indies innings.
At one stage the visitors looked unlikely even to break 100 when they collapsed to 74 for eight but No. 10 Nikita Miller, unbeaten on 25, combined with Chanderpaul and Fidel Edwards to avoid total humiliation.
helping hand
Vettori did the damage to the lower half of the West Indies order and he was complemented by Kyle Mills, who removed the openers and finished with two for 31 from his 10 overs.
Fellow opening bowler Tim Southee also chipped in with two for 36 from his 10 overs.
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