Astle, Cairns lead Kiwis run-chase

Astle, Cairns lead Kiwis run-chase
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Auckland, Jan 2: New Zealand beat West Indies by three wickets with five balls to spare in the first One-day cricket international at Eden Park on Sunday. Chris Harris and Dion Nash saw New Zealand through to their rain-reduced target of 250 off the first ball of Reon King's final over. Harris was 22 not out with Nash on 12.

New Zealand's target was reduced to 250 off 46 overs after rain stopped play for 20 minutes in the 32nd over of New Zealand's chase.

Nathan Astle and Chris Cairns were the stars for New Zealand, adding 136 for the fourth wicket, a record partnership for any wicket against the West Indies.

Cairns scored 75 and was dismissed in the 37th over by Franklyn Rose with the total on 198, and Astle followed next ball, bowled by Rose for 77. Astle was named Man of the Match.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat, the West Indies made a flying start and were well placed at 190 for three off 40 overs before adding 78 off the last 10.

Captain Brian Lara scored 76 off 81 balls, including threefours and two sixes. The second of the five-match series will be played in Taupo on Tuesday.

SCOREBOARD
West Indies
S Campbell st Parore b Vettori 51
R Jacobs lbw Harris 65
B Lara c Nash b O'Connor 76
S Chanderpaul run out 11
R Powell c Twose b Nash 35
F Rose c McMillan b O'Connor 2
N Perry not out 2
J Adams c Fleming b Astle 0
M Dillon not out 13
Extras (b4, lb6, w3) 13
Total (for 7 wickets in 50 overs) 268
Fall of wickets: 1-111, 2-131, 3-158, 4-249, 5-253, 6-253, 7-255.
Bowling: Nash 8-0-62-1, Cairns 5-0-29-0, O'Connor 8-0-62-2, Harris 10-0-40-1, Vettori 10-1-28-1, Astle 9-0-37-1.

New Zealand
C Spearman c Jacobs b Walsh 25
N Astle b Rose 77
S Fleming c Jacobs b Rose 1
C McMillan c Rose b King 1
C Cairns c Powell b Rose 75
C Harris not out 22
R Twose c Jacobs b Rose 6
A Parore c Dillon b King 4
D Nash not out 12
Extras (lb14, w6, nb7) 27
Total (for 7 wickets, 45.1 overs) 250
Fall of wickets:1-44, 2-48, 3-62, 4-198, 5-198, 6-211, 7-226.
Bowling: Walsh 10-0-48-1, Rose 9-0-71-3, King 8.1-3-24-3, Dillon 9-1-41-0, Perry 9-0-52-0.