Lou Vincent compiled a watchful century, and Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming made half-centuries on Wednesday to give New Zealand a 91-run victory over the West Indies in the fourth limited-overs cricket international.
New Zealand compiled 324 for six at McLean Park after being sent in to bat and the West Indies were restricted to 233 for nine in their 50 overs, though Runako Morgan reached his maiden one-day century.
The win gave New Zealand a 4-0 lead in the five-match series after their 81-run win in the first match at Wellington, their three-wicket win in the second at Queenstown and their 21-run win in the third at Christchurch on Saturday.
The performance of New Zealand’s top three batsmen, particularly Vincent who batted through century partnerships with Fleming (67) and Astle (81), gave New Zealand a total the West Indies were unable to surpass.
Vincent made 102, his second century in one-day internationals, batting for 189 minutes, facing 114 balls and hitting 10 fours and a six. He put on 106 with Fleming for the first wicket and 156 with Astle for the second, a record for New Zealand against all countries in limited-overs matches.
Morgan batted doggedly through the middle and late stages of the West Indies’ innings, sharing partnerships of 69 with Ramnaresh Sarwan (42) and 79 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (30). He was left 110 not out when the innings ended, having played for 196 minutes, faced 155 balls and hit seven fours.
It was Fleming who heralded New Zealand’s assault on a mediocre West Indies attack when he hit three sixes from the first three balls of the 12th over, the first bowled by Deighton Butler.
The New Zealand captain hoisted each of the short, wide deliveries over the boundary around point and third man during a sustained attack that set his team on course for a heavy total.
Fleming hit four boundaries, a single and three sixes from eight balls at the height of his attack on the bowling, which brought 35 runs from eight balls and carried him to a half-century from 38 deliveries. He went on to make 67 from 59 balls with six fours and four sixes.
Astle’s partnership with Vincent surpassed the 148-run stand between Fleming and Hamish Marshall against Sri Lanka in 2004.
Chris Gayle took three late wickets to limit New Zealand when they seemed in sight of the highest one-day total posted against the West Indies — Australia’s 338.
Young fast-bowler Fidel Edwards was the real bowling hero, standing apart from the damage inflicted on teammates and completing his 10 overs at a cost of 23 runs with four maidens. — Sapa-AP