Windies beat Kiwis to seal one-day series

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BASSETERRE: Spinner Sunil Narine claimed 2-20 and pacer Tino Best added 4-46 to trump a fine century from Ross Taylor and give West Indies a series-sealing 24-run victory over New Zealand in the fourth one-day on Saturday.

West Indies leaned on Kieron Pollard’s top-score of 56 to post 264 all out off 49.3 overs at Warner Park. New Zealand’s pursuit was anchored by skipper Taylor’s 110 off 115 balls on his return from injury but no other batsman passed 35 as the Kiwis were bowled out for 240 with three balls to spare. The Kiwi skipper’s sixth one-day ton contained six fours and five sixes.

Narine’s miserly spell earned him the man of the match honor and the fiery Best claimed Taylor among his four wickets in his first match of the series. West

Indies lead the five-match rubber 3-1 with the final match at the same venue

on Monday.

Earlier, the hosts recovered from 20-3 thanks to Pollard’s circumspect half century, which was spiced with five fours and a six. He got good support from Marlon Samuels (46), wicketkeeper Devon Thomas (37) and fellow allrounders captain Darren Sammy (26) and Andre Russell (29). Tim Southee, who removed the dangerous Chris Gayle for 16 in his early burst, claimed 3-53 while Jacob Oram took 3-42.

Best made an early strike when the Kiwis replied, Martin Guptill rushed by a full-length delivery and plumb lbw at 8-1. Rob Nicol provided some impetus to the chase and added 48 with Brendon McCullum as New Zealand took the initiative. But the returning McCullum (10) was prised out by Andre Russell, miscuing a pull to Sammy at short midwicket at 50-2 in the eighth over.

Sammy further dented the chase when Nicol’s enterprising innings was ended when he hoisted the skipper straight to deep square leg at 63-3. Nicol struck three fours and two sixes off 32 balls. West Indies took control when Narine struck for the first time, Kane Williamson lbw playing across the line at 75-4 in the 14th over.

Taylor dominated a stand of 71 with left-hander Tom Latham, who fell to Samuels’ offspin after struggling to compile 32 off 62 deliveries. Best returned to claim Nathan McCullum and removed the middle stump of Oram (6) at 219-7 and Taylor was left with only the tail to help him. He hoisted Russell for 21 off one over to revive the flagging hopes of his team and arrived at his hundred, off 108 balls, with 41 still needed off 26 balls.

Narine claimed Doug Bracewell for 5 and once Taylor miscued a low full toss to be caught off Best, the match was as good as over. Southee was the last to fall, comically run out as he tried to scamper a bye.