Fifth one-day international, Napier:
New Zealand 211-5 beat West Indies 293-9 by nine runs (D/L method)
Match scorecard
 New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori receives the series trophy |
New Zealand took advantage of the Duckworth-Lewis calculations to beat West Indies by nine runs in a rain-hit one-day international in Napier. The home side clinched a 2-1 series victory despite West Indies skipper Chris Gayle making 135 off 129 balls. Gayle equalled Brian Lara's West Indies record of 19 one-day centuries as they totalled 293-9 from their 50 overs. But New Zealand lifted their scoring rate before the rain arrived to reach 211-5 after 35 overs and claim the win. Ross Taylor, who finished unbeaten on 48, and Grant Elliott added 21 runs in two overs after New Zealand called for a powerplay as the first drops began to fall as skipper Daniel Vettori's decision to bat second because of an uncertain forecast paid off. "This is part of the game, there's nothing we can do about nature. I thought it would have ended up a good game," Gayle said afterwards.  | 606: DEBATE |
"We thought we were the better side throughout the one-day series, we just didn't quite get the opportunities to finish it off," Vettori commented. "Ross was the key. If we lost him it may have been difficult but I still would backed us to get that run-rate." Rain plagued the entire series with two matches washed out, and the other three all rain affected. But the crowd were given some tremendous entertainment by Gayle, who also became the fourth West Indies player to score 7,000 runs in one-dayers. He shared a 170-run partnership for the third wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who scored 94 off 91 balls, to give the West Indies a superb start. But the fall of Gayle, who was caught on the boundary by Taylor off Kyle Mills, led to a collapse which saw West Indies lose five wickets for 21 runs in the closing overs.  Gayle celebrates his century - but it was all in vain for West Indies |
Paceman Mark Gillespie finished with figures of 4-58, while Mills took 3-57. Jesse Ryder, back in the home side after serving a one-match suspension, gave the home side a positive start to their reply in tandem with Brendon McCullum. They put on 59 for the first wicket with McCullum hitting 41 off 28 balls, including six fours and a six, and Ryder making 21 off 23. Martin Guptill, who made a century on debut in the previous game, weighed in with 43, but the loss of Daniel Flynn and Neil Broom in quick succession to Daren Powell (3-66) left them on 175-5. But Taylor and Elliott kept New Zealand in touch with the required rate and provided the necessary acceleration when required to see their side home.
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