NELSON, New Zealand (AP) – Opener Martin Guptill struck early for New Zealand with 81 to lead the hosts to victory over the West Indies by 58 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis Method in the fourth cricket One-Day International earlier today.
New Zealand made 285 for six in 50 overs and the West Indies were 134 for five after 33.4 overs when rain prevented further play.
New Zealand now lead the series 2-1. The final match is at Hamilton on Tuesday.
Guptill came into the match out of form, having made only six runs in the two completed matches of the series to date. He took 41 balls to hit his first boundary, but then shared partnerships of 56 with Jesse Ryder (47), 88 with Kane Williamson (47) and 59 with Ross Taylor (49) to give the hosts a hefty lead.
The West Indies’ reply was undone by two early run outs. Chadwick Walton was run out without scoring from only the fourth ball of the innings and his fellow opener, Johnson Charles, fell for a duck in the fourth over.
The run out of Kirk Edwards (24) in the 15th over, which broke a 60-run partnership with Dwayne Bravo, all but ended the West Indies’ chances of challenging New Zealand’s total.
As clouds gathered over the ground, New Zealand quickly worked their way through 18 overs from spinners Nathan McCullum and Kyle Williamson to leave the tourists well behind under the Duckworth-Lewis calculation when the rain started.
