New Zealand saved by the rain

Rain came to the rescue of New Zealand on Wednesday after a storm ended the first one-day international cricket match against the West Indies at Sabina Park, preventing the hosts from chasing a modest target of 176.

"We've probably been saved by the weather in this game. This is probably the best scenario for us," said New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, after his team was skittled out for a low score.

Players and umpires had just re-taken the field for the West Indies innings at Sabina Park when the heavens opened.

There has been criticism about staging five limited-over internationals and two Tests in the Caribbean during the rainy season.

The rain lasted for more than an hour and when it stopped umpires Billy Doctrove and Asoka de Silva ruled that the outfield was too wet. Much of the water on the outfield had spilled out of the covers as they were being removed.

West Indies captain Carl Hooper, who switched away from an all-pace attack to use spin against the New Zealanders, clearly felt that victory had been there for the taking.

"I don't think it would have been a difficult target. I would have preferred to be in our position than New Zealand's," he said.

Fleming won the toss and chose to bat, although Hooper said after the match he would have bowled if he had won the toss.

"They've had a lot of rain here. There's always been something for the seamers early on."

Fleming paid tribute to the West Indies bowling, saying they had clearly benefited from the lengthy series against India which finished at the weekend.

"They had great control and bowled down the right channels. There was not very much there to hit," he said.

New Zealand have not played competitive cricket for a month since their tour of Pakistan was dramatically aborted when a bomb exploded outside their hotel in Karachi.

Hooper proved his point about the toss when pacemen Mervyn Dillon and Cameron Cuffy removed the first three New Zealand batsmen for 14 runs.

Only belligerent Craig McMillan, with a gutsy innings of 69, could master a Sabina Park wicket of variable bounce although most New Zealanders could only blame themselves for sacrificing their wickets with poor shots.

Nathan Astle was the first to go, caught at second slip by captain Carl Hooper in the third over from a Dillon delivery that jagged back in to the batsman.

One over later New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming, attempting an ostentatious pull early in the innings, only succeeded in falling flat on his back and lobbing a gentle catch to Ryan Hinds at square leg, plunging the tourists into trouble at five for two.

Dillon, Cuffey and left arm seamer Pedro Collins tied down the batsmen, who could only manage 28 from the first 10 overs.

Wicketkeeper Chris Nevin was Cuffy's second victim and veteran Chris Harris held out to Collins at deep square leg after being tied down by part time spinner Chris Gayle.

Mail Cricket Editor