West Indies v New Zealand, 3rd ODI, Basseterre, St Kitts

[AdeelSabih]

46 overs New Zealand 219/8 (N McCullum 39*, T Southee 0*) vs West Indies

New Zealand's struggling and inexperienced batting line-up got the gift of a pancake-flat track, a tiny ground where the longest boundary is 66m long, and the chance to bat first, but didn't profit from it too much as West Indies' bowlers struck three times and kept the run-rate reasonably low.



So far Rob Nicol was the only batsman to capitalise, as he made a brisk half-century after five successive ODI failures. Predictions of a six-fest looked good when Nicol effortlessly cleared the long-on boundary in the second over, and then swatted Andre Russell over mid-on for a boundary.


The benign nature of the track was highlighted as even Russell's shorter deliveries carried through to the keeper at only about waist height. However, Russell got one to nip in from outside off to have Martin Guptill, the most experienced of New Zealand's specialist batsmen, lbw.


Daniel Flynn, with a less-than-convincing ODI record (avg 15.38, strike-rate 61.53) coming into this match, had his best chance of making a case for being retained even when Brendon McCullum is picked for the next match. He started promisingly, with some fluent drives through the off side and a six over midwicket, but he threw it away by nicking a full and wide delivery to the keeper to be dismissed for 28.


More trouble followed for New Zealand as their captain, Kane Williamson, chopped an offspinner from Sunil Narine onto his stumps to be dismissed for 9. It was left to Nicol to power the innings and he did his best, reaching his fifty with his third six of the day. He will need support from the other end, though, as any total below 300 will not be safe against an explosive West Indies batting line-up.

[AdeelSabih]

New Zealand 249/9 after 50 overs.

(RJ Nicol 59, N McCullum 50).

[Bullet Drive]

Gayle time soon, how long till the start of WI innings?

[AdeelSabih]

Originally Posted by Bullet Drive Gayle time soon, how long till the start of WI innings?

Around 20-25 minutes left, BD.

[Bullet Drive]

Thanks, excited to see Gayle bat! Another hundred on the cards

[AdeelSabih]

Starts of West Indian innings.

[Bullet Drive]

Play has started.

[Bullet Drive]

Lovely shot by Johnson Charles.

[Bullet Drive]

Stand and deliver!

[AdeelSabih]

Back to back 's for Charles. West Indies 8 without no loss.

[Bullet Drive]

Boult to Gayle.

[Bullet Drive]

Boult looks like a woman.

[AdeelSabih]

Never heard of him (Charles), looks like a decent bloke. Btw, where is Lendl Simmons these days?

[Bullet Drive]

Very good bowling Boult.

[Bullet Drive]

Originally Posted by AdeelSabih Never heard of him (Charles), looks like a decent bloke. Btw, where is Lendl Simmons these days?

He's been playing first ODI's. Very poor start.

[Bullet Drive]

[AdeelSabih]

Oh boy, bit short of first slip, Gayle played it with soft hands, West Indies 12-0 after second over.

[AdeelSabih]

Straight drive for

West Indies 19-0 after 3rd over.

[Bullet Drive]

Boult bowling very well.

[Bullet Drive]

Johnson out...

[Bullet Drive]

I'd send in Polard and get it over and done with..

[AdeelSabih]

Perfect In-swinging yorker to Charles from Boult.
West Indies 19-1, another 231 runs required.

[Bullet Drive]

Fine shot by Smith.

[Bullet Drive]

21-1

[Bullet Drive]

Trent bowling beautifully!

[Bullet Drive]

Gayle kept quite early on..

[AdeelSabih]

Just noticed that there is no sponsor logo for New Zealand.

[AdeelSabih]

Good over from Mills. West Indies 22-1 after 5 overs.

[AdeelSabih]

Another good over from Boult, West Indies 25-1 after 6 overs.

[AdeelSabih]

Change in bowling; Tim Southee replacing Kyle Mills.

[AdeelSabih]

Good start from Southee, just 1 off it. West Indies 26-1 after 7 overs.

[AdeelSabih]

There he goes!! First from Beast!

[AdeelSabih]

Chris Gayle

[AdeelSabih]

Silly batting from West Indies and some superb fielding from New Zealand, West Indies 52-4.

[Ruri]

Say what you like about the NZ team, but they have the best ground fielders in the game. Best fielding ODI side. Some godlike reflexes.

[leatherface58]

good thumping win for the boys. odd choice nicol as motm though. nathan would have been my choice.