AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) – Darren Sammy made an unbeaten 43 from 27 balls to help the West Indies to a two-wicket win over New Zealand in the series-opening One-Day International earlier today.
It was a good start for the tourists who lost the Test series 2-0.
The win, completed in only 27.3 overs when the West Indies reached 157 for eight in reply to 156, overshadowed the return to international cricket after two years of New Zealand opener Jesse Ryder, who made a five-ball duck and dropped a catch.
Sammy held together the lower part of the West Indies innings, battering three sixes and five fours to guide his team home after Mitchell McClenaghan had taken five for 58 for New Zealand.
The Eden Park match was notable for the performances of captains and brothers.
New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum top-scored for his team with 51 while brother Nathan McCullum made 47, helping add 52 for the last two wickets before New Zealand’s innings ended in the 43rd over.
West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo took four for 44, while his brother Darren Bravo held three catches as the tourists dismissed New Zealand in 41.2 overs after winning the toss and bowling.
Sammy then took the reins of a disordered West Indies reply to lift his team to an important victory.
McClenaghan took the first four wickets to fall and finished with five for 58 from 9.3 overs to help New Zealand make a deficient total seem competitive, though the erratic fast bowler embarrassed himself and his team by bowling head-high full tosses, jostling and abusing batsmen and scattering six wides.
