Lara leads Windies to victory over New Zealand

West Indian batting maestro Brian Lara hit an unbeaten 59 to lead the West Indies to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand at the newly-built Beausejour Cricket Ground in the St Lucian countryside on Sunday, helping his team take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

With one match abandoned already, New Zealand can only draw level if they win the remaining two matches in Trinidad and St Vincent.

Batting first, New Zealand managed only 210 in 50 overs in face of some disciplined Windies bowling.

The Kiwis lost their three top batsmen for five runs, after skipper Stephen Fleming (34) and Chris Nevin (20) had given a sedate, but healthy start.

But the New Zealanders plunged from 69 for one to 74 for four, before Harris scored his 15th one day 50 in a 90-run partnership with Test opener Lou Vincent, who ended as top scorer with 60 in 87 balls.

Harris' 50 took 78 balls while Vincent's took 75.

Seamer Corey Collymore, who was picked ahead of Cuffy, posted figures of two for 38, while strike bowler Merv Dillon took two for 40 from his 10 overs.

Chris Gayle, bowling innocuous off-breaks, grabbed Fleming's wicket leg before and was the home side's most economical bowler, taking two for 34.

In reply, Gayle and Chanderpaul gave Windies a turbo start, with both flogging the Kiwi bowlers for 33 runs in the first five overs.

Chanderpaul, who scored an unbeaten 108 on Saturday in the second match of the series, eventually perished for a cavalier 30 and Gayle for 37.

Lara and Sarwan put on a match-winning 77 for the third wicket before Sarwan (42) was trapped leg before wicket by Chris Harris.

Lara, who won the man-of-the-match award, then took control, hitting five fours and a mighty six. His controlled 50 came up in 73 balls and his innings lasted 84 deliveries as he scored his 48th one-day half-century.

Also read: Chanderpaul leads Windies six-wicket to victory