Doug Bracwell finished with career-best figures of 4-55 off eight overs
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Doug Bracewell starred with the ball on his return to ODI cricket as he took four wickets to lead New Zealand to a five-wicket win over the West Indies in Whangarei.
Bracewell, who was playing his first ODI since October 2016, was well supported by debutant Todd Astle, who finished with three wickets to his name.
Being put in to bat first, the West Indies got off to a solid start before opener Chris Gayle was caught behind off the bowling of Bracewell for 22.
Even though Shai Hope fell the very next ball, the West Indies managed to recover through Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer’s 62-run partnership.
However, once Hetmyer was dismissed by Astle for 29, the tourists began to lose wickets in a hurry, including that of Lewis, who proceeded to make 76 off 100 balls, which included seven boundaries and a six.
Evin Lewis hit seven boundaries and a six during his knock
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But, just as the West Indies seemed to be on the verge of posting a disappointing total, Rovman Powell came to the rescue with a career-best 59, which came off 50 deliveries and included two boundaries and four sixes.
Rovman Powell struck his maiden half-century in ODI cricket
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Thanks to Powell’s late heroics with the bat, the West Indies managed to finish on 248/9 off their 50 overs.
Bracewell was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Astle took three and Lockie Ferguson chipped in with two.
Chasing 249 to win, New Zealand got off to an excellent start as openers George Worker and Colin Munro amassed a 108-run partnership, during which Worker brought up his fifty, before Munro was removed by Kesrick Williams for 49.
George Worker scored his second ODI fifty
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Worker went on to score a career-best 57 off 66 balls, which included eight boundaries, before he was clean bowled by Ashley Nurse.
Even though captain Kane Williamson, wicketkeeper Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls fell in relatively quick succession, New Zealand still reached their target with four overs to spare thanks to Ross Taylor’s unbeaten 49, which came off 76 deliveries and included two boundaries.
Nurse and West Indies captain Jason Holder snapped up two wickets apiece, while Williams claimed one.
Holder was not impressed with his side’s performance, and said: “Yeah tough start. We didn’t think we got enough runs. One or two batsmen put up scores but we never really gathered momentum. We got to be a lot better with the bat. It hampered us in the end because we had to lay platforms again and again.”
Williamson was glad to have taken a 1-0 lead in the series, and said: “A few things to improve on but overall it was good. Bowlers did well but they dug in and managed to put up a score that could be tricky. But credit to our batsmen who came out and took the momentum. Both those guys, particularly Doug has played for a few years and it’s good to have him back.
George has been doing well in the domestic circuit and he’s showing his wares now. Todd Astle was brilliant as well. It’s going be a slightly different surface in Centurion, we have to be smart to adapt. [About his break] Don’t really know what do! A couple of days off. It will be tough seeing the boys on the TV.”
Bracewell was named Man of the Match, and said: “Yeah it was nice to get Chris [Gayle] first delivery. It’s been a bit of a tough road back but done a lot of work in the winter rehabbing. It’s still a bit niggly just gotta keep managing it. It’s good to be back with these bunch of boys.”