West Indies beat New Zealand to take lead in 5-Match ODI series

AUCKLAND: West Indies defeated New Zealand by two wickets in a low-scoring thriller at Eden Park in Auckland on Thursday and take lead in the five-match ODI series, ARY News reported.

West Indies winning the toss invited the hosts to bat first, their seamers Ravi Rampaul and Jason Holder with good swing and pace did the early damage and left New Zealand to 32 for 4. Skipper of New Zealand Brendon McCullum put up a strong resistance, going past 5000 ODI runs during his 51, but he didn't receive any support from the other batsmen. 

New Zealand were 112 for 9 in the 33rd over but Nathan McCullum delayed the end of innings till the 43rd over with an enterprising 4 setting the target of 157 runs for the visitors.

Dwayne Bravo picked up 4 wickets giving 44 runs in his 10-over spell.

Mitchell McClenaghan's maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs led New Zealand's fightback after they had been bowled out for 156, but Darren Sammy smashed an unbeaten 27-ball 43 to take West Indies over the line. The difference was that McClenaghan didn't receive similar support from his team-mates.

West Indies needed 61 when Sammy arrived at the crease at the fall of the sixth wicket and brought West Indies home with his unbeaten knock.

Lendl Simmons, was the other man who remained impressive with the bat by scoring 34 runs.

The scond ODI between the two will be played on December 29 at McLean Park, Napier.