West Indies cricket was alive and well under the Florida sun yesterday, as they totally dominated New Zealand, winning their two-match series 2-0 at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, USA. After their convincing 56-run victory in the opening match on Saturday, the West Indies gave the fans a Sunday afternoon treat, as they won by 61 runs. After compiling another impressive score of 177 for five off their 20 overs, the West Indies restricted New Zealand to 116 all out in 18.4 overs. Chris Gayle with an aggressive 53 and Dwayne Bravo a hurricane 35 off 11 balls had taken the West Indies to their score. New Zealand were never in the hunt after losing Martin Guptill early and when the Mohican spin master Sunil Narine was done, so too was their innings. He mesmerised the Kiwis to such an extent that they now go into the rest of the series confused. The Arima kid finished with figures of 4/12 that won him the man of the match title and West Indies the match and series.
Earlier, New Zealand's regular skipper Ross Taylor was ruled out with a shoulder injury and Kane Williamson was given the captaincy of the Blackcaps for the first time. He lost the toss and West Indies skipper Daren Sammy decided to take first knock. From the first over Dwayne Smith landed on over the ropes which drew the comment from a colourful character in the stands : "This boy should play baseball, look at that home run." Well, Smith would strike two "home runs" in his very brief 13 but it set the tone for the innings. Gayle and Johnson Charles again featured in a healthy partnership, adding 72 in very quick time. Gayle was again very thoughtful in his approach and paced his innings nicely. He however, took a liking to Tim Southee and in one over struck him for two sixes and a four in three balls. As one ball landed into the West Stand, a youngster jumped to his feet with the placard "American Cricket Fan," such has been the effect of the Windies in spreading the game here over the last two days.
Charles ran up a quick 36 off 32 balls with four fours and a six before leaving. Gayle would soon follow as he tried to heave a full delivery on middle, delivered from around the wicket, into the leg side but got a bottom edge which knocked back middle stump. His contribution of 53 off 39 balls with three fours and four sixes was well appreciated by the large crowd on hand, as they applauded him right into the spanking red pavilion at the Clock Tower End. After Gayle's departure, the Kiwis would have felt a sense of relief but in an area to prone to hurricanes, one in name of Bravo was on the way. He swatted 35 off just 11 balls at a strike rate of over 300 percent to take the fight out of the Kiwis. While one of his sixes sailed out the ground the deejay on hand blared Radhika Why Yuh Leave and Gone and this sent the Grass Mound into a frenzy. The bandwagon now shifts to Jamaica, where the two teams play their first one day international at Sabina Park on Thursday. (VM)
SCOREBOARD
W Indies vs N Zealand
WI inns
D Smith c & b Bracewell 13
C Gayle b McCullum 53
J Charles c Southee b Nicol 36
L Simmons c Southee b McCullum 18
D Sammy c Williamson b Southee 13
D Bravo not out 35
M Samuels not out 4
Extras lb1, w3, nb 15
Total for 5 wkts 177
Fall of wkts: 14, 86, 117, 124, 161,
Bowling: K Mills 4-0-20-0 (1nb), D Bracewell 3-0-43-1, T Southee 4-0-43-1 (2w), A Mills 4-0-40-0 (1w), N McCullum 3-0-19-2, R Nicol 2-0-11-1.
N Zealand inns
R Nicol st Ramdin b Narine 7
M Guptill c Edwards b Narine 18
T Southee c Charles b Badree 3
K Williamson run out 6
D Flynn c Gayle b Samuels 23
D Brownlie b Narine 1
T Latham b Samuels 19
N McCullum c&b Bravo 14
A Ellis c Bravo b Narine 1
B Bracewell c Smith b Bravo 20
K Mills not ou 1
Extras lb1, w2 3
Total all out (18.4ovs) 116
Fall of wkts: 26, 26,33, 39, 43, 69, 85, 90, 114, 116.
Bowling: F Edwards 3-0-20-0, S Badree 4-0-20-1, S Narine 4-0-12-4 (1w), D Sammy 2-0-15-0 (1w), D Bravo 2.4-0-23-2, M Samuels 3-0-25-2.
Result: West Indies won by 61 runs.
West Indies won series 2-0.
Man-of-match: Sunil Narine.
