The West Indies were set a revised target of 235 in 40 overs after rain disrupted play in the fourth One-Day International against New Zealand here on Saturday.The Windies were 47 without loss when rain stopped play in the ninth over of their innings chasing 276 to win.Captain Chris Gayle was on 35 off 31 balls while SewnarineChattergoon had reached 11 off 21. Earlier New Zealand made 275 for four after being sent in to bat when Gayle won the toss. Debutant opener Martin Guptill top-scored with an unbeaten 122 from 135 balls while Ross Taylor made 75 from 87 -- the pair adding 144 for the third wicket.Fast bowler Lionel Baker returned the best figures for the West Indies of two for 29 from 10 overs.The 22-year-old opener Guptill batted throughout the innings to notch the highest ODI score by a New Zealander on debut.It was the second-highest maiden ODI innings in world cricket, behind the 148 of West Indian Desmond Haynes, and the highest ever unbeaten debut.Guptill, who was dropped three times, batted at nearly a run a ball, facing 135 deliveries and striking eight boundaries and two sixes. He brought up his century with a towering six off West Indies captain Chris Gayle.When the New Zealand innings ended, another debutant Neil Broom was also starring at the crease with two sixes in a rapid 24 off 17 deliveries.With the five-match series tied at one-all after the opening game was abandoned, Gayle won the toss and had no hesitation in sending New Zealand into bat, knowing that the winner cannot lose the series.
Conditions were ripe for his battery of quick bowlers with movement through the air and pace off the pitch.But the West Indies suffered from wayward deliveries and some sloppy fielding in which the Guptill benefited from dropped catches on 16, 21 and 33.New Zealand also profited from 26 extras including 11 wides and two no balls which gave them an additional 13 deliveries to score from. Guptill opened the innings with the experienced Brendon McCullum but rather than play a support role he scored as freely as his senior partner from the start.They took the score through to 68 in the 15th over before the West Indies finally made a catch stick with McCullum flailing at a Lionel Baker outswinger and being caught behind by Denesh Ramdin.
The recalled Mathew Sinclair, one of four changes to the New Zealand side which won the third ODI on Wednesday to level the series, found that international cricket still does not agree with him.He lasted two overs before being dismissed in similar fashion to McCullum as Baker and Ramdin repeated their double act.Ross Taylor then set about righting the New Zealand innings, piling on 144 with Guptill for the third wicket.But when they began to push the score in the final 10 overs, Taylor went to belt Fidel Edwards out of the park only to completely miss the ball which crashed into his off stump.Daniel Flynn came and went for a duck in the space of two balls, bringing Broom to the crease.Baker was the most successful and most economical of the West Indies bowlers, taking two for 29 off his 10 overs.
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