WI lose low-scoring one-dayer

New Zealand slipped to 13 for four before rallying to surpass the West Indies’ total of 200 for nine with eight overs to spare.

Vettori, 53 not out at close of play, hit a boundary from the last ball of the 42nd over to bring up his half century and New Zealand’s winning run, giving his team a 2-0 lead in the series after their 81-run win at Wellington on Saturday.

A New Zealand win had seemed unlikely when young fast bowler Fidel Edwards and senior paceman Ian Bradshaw blasted through New Zealand’s top order, dismissing Jamie How with the second ball of the match, Lou Vincent for five, Nathan Astle for two and Stephen Fleming for a duck.

At 13 for four with the cream of their batting in the pavilion New Zealand seemed bound for defeat before Fulton steadied the innings, and McCullum blasted New Zealand into a slim ascendancy.

Fulton scored 49 from 77 balls and was the anchor of the middle order while McCullum, who arrived at the crease bent on breaking the control of the West Indian bowlers, hit 45 from 44 balls with five fours and a towering six.

New Zealand faced a late crisis when Fulton and McCullum were out with 21 runs and five overs but Vettori took charge of the innings and saw his team home in an unbeaten 63-run partnership with James Franklin (14 not out).

Earlier, Wavell Hinds had top scored with 76 in the West Indies’ innings of 200 for nine.

Hinds faced 88 balls and hit a six and six fours in an innings which revived the West Indies who had slumped to 60 for four in the 22nd over.

New Zealand won the toss and made good use of a pitch which fostered fast bowling and weather conditions which generated swing.

Shane Bond bowled an outstanding opening spell of six overs which conceded only two runs and contained the wicket of opener Chris Gayle, forcing the West Indies to labour for runs. Bond returned later to dismiss Hinds and to end with two for 23 from ten overs.

Gayle was out in the fourth over, his opening partner Daren Ganga (7) in the 11th when the West Indies were desperately placed at ten for two.

Ramnaresh Sarwan fell for 14 at 37 for three and captain Shivnarine Chander-paul for 17 at 60 for four as the West Indies batsmen struggled to find their timing on a slow pitch against accurate bowling.

Hinds and Runako Morgan revived the innings in a 70-run partnership for the fifth wicket, assembling that partnership through the 19 most productive overs of the innings.