A late flurry of runs in an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 53 between Brendon McCullum and Andre Adams helped New Zealand post a decent score of 241 for seven in 50 overs in their World Cup Group B cricket match against West Indies at St George’s Park on Thursday.
After being sent in to bat, New Zealand struggled for most of their innings and it was only when No 9 Andre Adams arrived at the crease that they were able to gain any sort of ascendancy over the Windies.
Adams struck two sixes and a four off 24 deliveries as he contributed 35 to the 53-run partnership with McCullum which came off just seven overs.
Earlier, part-time medium-pacer Wavell Hinds had put the Windies on top with three for 35 in 10 overs on the trot. The opening batsman, who has only bowled 114 overs in 65 one-day internationals, broke a dangerous looking fourth-wicket partnership of 64 between Nathan Astle (46) and Chris Cairns (37) when he removed Astle in his third last over.
He followed that up with a wicket in each of his remaining overs as the Windies slumped from 130 for three to 147 for six. But first Chris Harris (19) and then Adams helped McCullum resurrect the NZ innings by taking 94 runs off the last 18 overs. – Sapa
More cricket in our Cricket World Cup special report