14 Jan 2009

Black Caps win match and series against West Indies

9:29 am on 14 January 2009

The New Zealand cricket captain Dan Vettori says the one day international series win over the West Indies was very satisfying and he's emphasising the positives.

New Zealand clinched the rain-affected one day series 2-1 after a nine-run win under the Duckworth-Lewis method in Napier on Tuesday while both the Test and Twenty20 series were tied.

The skipper's hailing the batting as a developing strength.

Vettori says the emergence of new batting talent Martin Guptill -- who scored 122 on debut then contributed a valuable 43 at McLean Park -- and the maturing of the big-hitting Ross Taylor are encouraging signs.

The West Indies, sent in to bat at McLean Park by Vettori, made 293 for nine, with skipper Chris Gayle top scoring with 135 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul making 96.

Mark Gillespie, bowling for the home side, took four for 58 - including two wickets in the last over at the death, and one on the final ball.

The Black Caps' run chase got off to an explosive start with Brendon McCullum, who made 41 off just 28 balls, and Jesse Ryder, delivering a massive platform of 53 runs in the first five overs.

Then it rained and the Black Caps were getting behind on the Duckworth Lewis calculations going into what would prove to be the penultimate over before Ross Taylor spanked back to back fours.

New Zealand's 211 for five after 35 overs when rain forced them from the field was enough to be awarded the match, Taylor finishing unbeaten on 48.