Sarwan and Ramdin steer Windies to five-wicket win over New Zealand

By Sportsmail Reporter Updated: 06:30 EST, 3 January 2009

A superb bowling effort and a fine rearguard action by Ramnaresh Sarwan and Denesh Ramdin helped the West Indies secure a tense five-wicket win via the Duckworth-Lewis method in their rain-affected second one-day international in New Zealand.

With the match reduced to 28 overs per side after a four-hour rain delay in Christchurch, the Windies were set a target of 158 after they kept the Black Caps to 152 for eight in their innings.

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Led by example: West Indies' captain Ramnaresh Sarwan

The West Indies looked dead and buried at 110 for five in the 23rd over but a quickfire 28 from 18 deliveries by Ramdin and 67 off 65 from Sarwan saw the tourists win to go 1-0 up in the five-match series.

It was the final three overs which proved costly for the home side after they had done well to keep the tourists in check for most of their innings.

Ramdin stepped up a gear and his boundary off Tim Southee in the 26th over gave West Indies a glimmer of hope before he dispatched Jeetan Patel for successive fours the next over to put his side within touching distance of victory.

Once again Chris Gayle was a key man for the tourists. Not only did he win the toss and choose to insert New Zealand, his 47-run partnership with Sarwan also provided the early impetus for the West Indies victory.

But just when the tall left-hander was looking set for a big score, Black Caps counterpart Daniel Vettori struck and Gayle was bowled out for 36.

Sarwan, who hit three fours on his way to a 55-ball 50, was left to carry the innings but runs began drying up as Vettori, Jacob Oram and Patel turned the screws before it all fell apart at the end for the New Zealanders.

Gayle's decision to bowl first seemed like an inspired choice when Fidel Edwards struck an early blow to get the coveted wicket of Brendon McCullum for one in just the third over.

Edwards (three for 26) and Jerome Taylor (two for 26) varied their pace well, while Nikita Miller (two for 26), who replaced fellow spinner Sulieman Benn for the one-dayers, ensured the boundaries remained at a premium for the New Zealanders who never really got going.

Opener Jesse Ryder top-scored for the hosts with a 43-ball 32 that was split by the rain delay and Grant Elliott added a quickfire 30 off 27 balls to get New Zealand past the 150-run mark as wickets tumbled regularly once play resumed.

Only 6.5 overs were possible before the rain, hail and thunderstorm came and when play was suspended New Zealand were 26 for one.

Ryder had reached 20, thanks to a boundary and a couple of sixes, and Jamie How was on four. When the players returned to the field the West Indies bowlers were quickly into their stride, never allowing the New Zealand batsmen to settle.

Boundaries were few and far between and partnerships limited. Ryder departed in the 12th over when he was caught by Sewnarine Chattergoon trying to heave another one over the rope.

After that wickets fell regularly and New Zealand slumped from 59 for two to be 87 for five as How fell (27) and Ross Taylor (13) and Daniel Flynn (four) came and went.

Oram and Vettori both perished in Edwards penultimate over, Oram to a great diving catch by Chattergoon, to leave New Zealand 115 for seven and it was left to Elliott to steer New Zealand beyond the 150 mark.

The West Indies reply got off to a steady start before Southee removed Chattergoon for six. Gayle and Sarwan then got things back on track only for the skipper to be deceived by a quicker ball from Vettori and from then on the required run rate steadily crept up.

But when Ramdin joined Sarwan at the crease there was a noticeable change in attitude and the pair attacked hard to get their team across the line.