West Indies outplay New Zealand to draw ODI series

Hamilton (New Zealand), Jan 8 (IANS/CMC) Kirk Edwards hit his maiden One-Day international (ODI) hundred and Dwayne Bravo his second as the West Indies crushed New Zealand by 203 runs in the fifth and final ODI here Wednesday to draw the series two games each.

Edwards was undefeated on 123 while Bravo scored 106 highlighting a superior all round performance by the Caribbean side to climax the series on a high at Seddon Park here, reports CMC.

Opener Kieran Powell set the Windies off to a flying start by racing to a 44 ball 73, and set the tone for their total of 363 for four, their highest ODI total but the Black Caps had no answer to an outfit on fire and imploded for 160 in 29.5 overs.

Powell hit 12 fours and two sixes to dominate an opening stand of 95 with Johnson Charles in 12 overs.

His knock included a six which was caught by a fan, who won $100,000 offered by a beer company for a one-handed catch.

Edwards and Bravo came together at 143 for three to consolidate and then accelerate after Powell fell leg-before to spinner Nathan McCullum and the run rate slowed after his departure.

Edwards' 108 ball knock included 12 fours and four sixes while Bravo's entertaining innings featured 12 fours and three sixes.

New Zealand never built momentum in their run chase as the five frontline batsmen were dismissed with the score on 65.

Big-hitting Corey Anderson was caught on 29 as the Black Caps tumbled to 94 for six while Kyle Mills led some lower-order resistance before he was run out for 26.

Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller finished with 4-45, while Bravo followed up his century with a miserly 1-12 off five overs to be named man of the match.

Jason Holder and Andre Russell each picked up two wickets.

The West Indies' overwhelming display, following poor performances in the two previous ODIs, resulted in New Zealand's second heaviest ODI defeat.

The third ODI at Napier was called off without a ball being bowled due to heavy rain.

The two teams now play a two-match Twenty 20 series starting in Auckland Saturday.

--IANS/CMC

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