Wisden
3rd ODI

West Indies v New Zealand, 2012

Tony Cozier

At Basseterre, St Kitts, July 11, 2012. New Zealand won by 88 runs. Toss: West Indies. One-day international debut: T. A. Boult.

After four successive thrashings, New Zealand emphatically kept the series alive. Williamson discerned "a great shift in momentum", though this proved optimistic. Sent in, they had recovered from 125 for 5 in the 27th over - when the dominant Nicol tamely tapped a return catch to Samuels - to reach an adequate total on a flat pitch. Watling contributed again, but a thigh strain added him to New Zealand's lengthy injured list; Latham kept wicket in his stead. Gayle's first failure of the series, edging an away-swinger from Southee, reinforced the notion that his early dismissal was crucial. Nervous run-outs and reckless shots left West Indies 103 for eight in the 28th over, and Russell's four sixes were scant consolation for a big crowd. The match was dedicated to the memory of Runako Morton, the West Indies batsman from neighbouring Nevis who was killed in a car crash in March, aged 33.

Man of the Match: R.J. Nicol

© John Wisden & Co.