Fleming guides NZ to victory

Fleming guides NZ to victory
ASSOCIATED PRESS

NAPIER, JANUARY 6: Stephen Fleming blazed his second successive half century against the West Indies to guide New Zealand to a four-wicket win in the third one-dayer, and clinch an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-game series.

Chasing 160 to win, the Black Caps suffered an early setback before recovering to overhaul the West Indies total of 159 all out in 37.2 overs.

Fleming, who remained unbeaten on 66, went to the crease with the total at one for one after Craig Spearman swiped at a wide delivery from Mervyn Dillon and edged the ball to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs on the second ball of the innings.

The Kiwi skipper survived two early dropped catches before punishing the Caribbean attack in a 105-run second wicket stand with Nathan Astle to put the Kiwis on target.

Astle scored 50 off 58 balls before he miscued a ball from Nehemiah Perry and was caught by Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the 21st over. Roger Twose was out without scoring, two balls later.

The Kiwis lost Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan andChris Harris, but Fleming and Adam Parore saw them through.

Earlier, Cairns and Harris took three wickets apiece to skittle the West Indies batting lineup in 49.5 overs. Perry remained 52 not out and Brian Lara, who elected to bat, notched 30 but the New Zealanders dominated from the start.

SCOREBOARD :

West Indies: S Campbell c Parore b Cairns 0, Riddley Jacobs lbw Cairns 4, Jimmy Adams c Parore b Nash 2, Brian Lara c & b Harris 30, Shivnaraine Chanderpaul b Cairns 10, Ricardo Powell c Astle b Harris 11, Wavell Hinds c & b Harris 18, Nehemiah Perry not out 52, Merwyn Dillon c Parore b Astle 15, Dinanath Ramnarine b Styris 2, Reon King lbw Nash 5. Extras (b 1, w 9): 10. Total (all out in 49.5 overs): 159
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-6, 3-15, 4-33, 5-62, 6-70, 7-97, 8-145, 9-147
Bowling: Cairns 8-0-25-3, Nash 4.5-0-11-2, Styris 10-1-31-1, Vettori 10-1-40-0, Harris 10-1-28-3, Astle 7-0-23-1

New Zealand: Craig Spearman c Jacobs b Dillon 0, Nathan Astle cChanderpaul b Perry 50, Stephen Fleming not out 66, Roger Twose c Adams b King 0, Chris Cairns c Campbell b King 8, Craig McMillan c & b Hinds 6, Chris Harris c Adams b King 10, Adam Parore not out 9. Extras (b 4, lb 2, w 2, nb 3): 11. Total (for six wkts in 37.2 overs): 160
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-106, 3-106, 4-114, 5-126, 6-142
Bowling: Dillon 8-0-45-1, King 10-1-35-3, Ramnarine 6.2-2-23-0, Perry 10-0-37-1, Hinds 3-0-14-1.

Result: New Zealand win by four wickets.