Windies suffer second defeat, lose to New Zealand by 7 wickets

St Peter's, Antigua, Mar 29: A mix of seam and spin proved a deadly cocktail for the West Indies as the hosts crashed to their second successive loss, suffering a humiliating seven wicket defeat against New Zealand in the Super Eight league match of the cricket World Cup at Sir Vivian Richards ground here today.

Put in to bat, the West Indies were bundled out for a paltry 177 in 44.4 overs and in reply, New Zealand crossed the target, scoring 179 for 3 in 39.2 overs.

The Kiwis survived some initial scares and hiccups before romping home easily.

An unbeaten 102-run fourth wicket partnership between Scott Styris and Crag McMillian in 12.3 overs enabled the Kiwis to record a comprehansive win.

Styris, playing his 127 one-day international, cracked an unbeaten 90-ball 80 (7x4) and McMillian remained undefeated on 33 (3x4, 57 balls).

This staggering defeat with 10.4 overs to spare has put a big question mark for West Indies' chances of making it to the semi-finals as they have only two points to their kitty, which they earned in the preliminary stage, with four more matches to go. They lost to Australia by 103 runs in their first Super League match yesterday.

New Zealand now have four points and are strong contenders for a last four berth.

The hosts flattered to deceive as they got rid of opener Peter Fulton off the second ball of the innings. Powell rattled the middle stump of the opener.

Thirty-six runs and 8.3 overs later, Powell struck again when he got travel-weary Hamish Marshall caught at cover by Lara. Marshall, a last minute replacement for injured Lou Vincent scored 15 (23 balls, 2x4).

A 41-run third wicket stand between skipper Stephen Fleming and Styris stabilised the innings but Fleming was brilliantly run out by his counterpart Lara, whose direct throw from the midwicket hit the stumped before the Kiwi skipper could reach the crease. Fleming contributed 45 (66 balls, 6x4, 1x6).

But after that, Styris and McMillian gave no chance to their rivals as they batted confidently to take their side to victory.

Earlier, Jacob Oram (3 for 23) and Shane Bond (3 for 31) ripped through the Windies batting order and spinner Daniel Vettori (3 for 39) cleaned up the tail as they put the hosts on the back foot.

For the hosts, opener Chris Gayle top-scored with 44 (56 balls, 8x4) followed by Braian Lara's 37 (37 balls, 1X4).

The Kiwi bowlers showed tremendous discipline and kept attacking the opposition batsmen and in the process put the brakes on the West Indians.

Fleming opted to give his bowlers a go after one look at a pitch that had large patches of damp areas spread right across the surface. The move paid off with the home side tottering at 114 for 4 after 30 overs in a match they desperately need to win to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Once again, it was Lara the home side was looking to, to make a match out of it. He had a workmanlike 77 against Australia in yesterday's huge defeat, but today, it was not Lara's day. The Kiwis had a plan for him. Lara looked set for another big innings but a momentary lapse of concentration did him in as he edged Styris for Brendon McCullum to take an easy catch behind the stumps.

The West Indies skipper faced 49 balls and struck one four during his uneventful stay at the crease. He was the sixth batsman to get out and the scoreboard read 150 whwn he was out in the 37th over.

After that, the hosts' innings lasted for another 8.1 overs in which they added 27 more runs before being all out.

The hosts looked to have overcome a hesitant start in helpful conditions for the bowlers, but Oram's induction in the 13th over completely changed the complexion of an otherwise till-then sedate game.

Three overs into his spell, Oram had Ramnaresh Sarwan (19, 27 balls, 2 fours) driving loosely. The ball nicked the inside edge and flew low to wicket-keeper McCullum's left. The stocky glovesman reacted instantly for a brilliant take, the ball having actually crossed his body when his hand closed around it.

At 66 for 2, it was still game on, but four overs later, Marlon Samuels was gone. Oram got the ball to rise from a length, which he does occasionally using his great height, and all Samuels (9, 18 balls, one four) coud do was to fend it off his throat and into McCullum's gloves.

Worse was to follow. Gayle had taken his time to settle in and see off the new ball. The shots were beginning to flow too, eight of them finding the boundary before the powerful left-hander drove loosely at a ball outside his off-stump and chopped it back onto his stumps.

Gayle (44, 58 balls, 8 fours) looked shattered as he trudged off, and with good reason. He had played himself in, seen off a lively early session and just when he should have been cashing in on, he was on his way back, and the Windies in something of a hole at 81 for 4.

Lara and Bravo then shared a 47-run fifth wicket partnership but once Bravo was dismissed by Bond, the fight went out of the Windies batsmen. Bravo contributed 18 runs.

When his first spell ended, Oram had figures of 8-2-23-3, and he had more than done his share for the Black Caps.

Earlier, Bond turned on the heat on an already warm day for the batsmen with a probing spell of fast bowling that had openers Gayle and Shivnaraine Chanderpaul gropping. The 32-year-old from Canterbury bowler worked up pace and swing and beat both left-handers so frequently that one lost count of the number of times the ball flashed past the blade.

It was perhaps inevitable that such a display earn reward, and Chanderpaul, who had faced 28 deliveries for his four runs was drawn into a delivery that swung from middle to off and kept going, the edge finding Styris in the slips.

West Indies will now have to win all their four remaining matches to keep their hopes alive and it looks a tough job, considering their performance in the two Super League matches.

UNI