Cricket News: West Indies VS New Zealand, 1st ODI - West Indies beats New Zealand by five wickets

    Shamarh Brooks struck 79 and had a 75-run partnership with captain Nicholas Pooran to lead the West Indies to a five-wicket victory against top-ranked New Zealand in the series opener on Wednesday

    West Indies beats New Zealand by five wickets West Indies beats New Zealand by five wickets

    Brooks had achieved his fourth ODI half-century from 58 balls and had faced 91 deliveries when he was caught in the 34th over, with the West Indies closing down on New Zealand's insufficient total of 190.

    The home team completed its goal with 11 overs remaining with Jason Holder (13) and Jermaine Blackwood (12) at the crease.

    In the first of three ODIs at the Kensington Oval, the West Indies chose to bowl and dismissed New Zealand for 190 in 45.2 overs with the help of Akeal Hossain's 3-28 and Alzarri Joseph's 3-36.

    It was New Zealand's first dismissal in a 50-over contest since March 2020.

    Rain interruptions peppered the West Indies innings but couldn't derail Brooks' steady momentum. The first occurred in the first over of the innings, and the second occurred in the 29th, when the West Indies were only 42 runs away from victory. 

    Under the Duckworth-Lewis system, the West Indies were already well ahead of a winning total at that point.

    Pooran was out for 28 seconds following the second rain break, but Brooks kept a firm grip on the run chase.

    New Zealand got off to a strong start with a 41-run stand between Martin Guptill and Finn Allen, who hit two sixes and a four off Holder's bowling in the seventh over.

    After a brief rain delay at the end of the eighth over, Allen was out for 25 four balls after the game resumed. From that point on, New Zealand consistently lost wickets and had trouble forming the kinds of alliances needed to attain a higher score.

    Hosein's first wicket was Allen, who was caught by Pooran, who had to rush back and cling onto the ball as it came across his shoulder.

    Guptill was caught at slip by Kyle Mayers in Hosein's following over for 24 when New Zealand was 53-2.

    Captain Kane Williamson attempted to lead a New Zealand recovery with 34-ball innings. But he didn't have much help: Devon Conway (4) and Tom Latham (12) were both out cheaply as New Zealand fell to 88-4.

    All-rounders Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner put on 40 for the seventh wicket but couldn't turn the game back in New Zealand's favor. Bracewell was out for 31 from 33 balls, caught lbw, giving Carriah his first one-day international wicket. The Trinidadian wrist spinner completed his nine overs with 1-49.

    The lower order of New Zealand often comes to the rescue, but there was no fightback on this occasion. With the score at 189-8 and Santner out for 25, the final two wickets fell easily.

    The second game will be played at the same location on Friday.

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