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Hamilton, New Zealand - West Indies captain Brian Lara lashed his team for its lack of 'guts' after New Zealand won the first Test by nine wickets yesterday.

It was New Zealand's first win over the Windies since the third Test at Christchurch in 1987.

Lara was lamenting his side's loss after they completely dominated the first day, when the West Indies went to stumps on 282 for one.

'I take full responsibility for the loss,' he said. 'After that first day we were too complacent on the second day and let them back into the match. We took things for granted.

'I assumed we would go on to 500 and shut New Zealand out of the match.

'Instead the New Zealanders fought back and for a time we played with no guts at all. But some day soon that is going to stop and I think Wellington's the best place to start.

'New Zealand took their opportunities and fully deserve their victory.'

Second Test

The second Test of the two-match series starts at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Sunday (Christmas night Barbados time).

Set 70 to win, after bowling the West Indies out for just 97 in their second innings, New Zealand cruised to a comfortable victory.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, suffering from a stomach virus, did not take to the field, arriving at the ground just before the West Indies were all out.

'What better way to get better,' he told reporters.

'I watched a few wickets on television and I felt like I was missing out, so I came down here pretty smartly.'

Fleming put the side's win down to taking the 'huge opportunity' to improve after New Zealand's dismal first day.

'We began to get a sniff during the second day and we've begun to show that when we're given a sniff of victory we do very well.

'We got the opportunity here and we put it away.'

Lara was critical of his own batting performances in the Test. He was out to a loose shot after hitting a quick 24 in the first innings and was out to a wild slash outside off stump in the second.

'I am the first to admit that the shots I went out to were a little irresponsible and I'm obviously very disappointed with that,' he said.

Both Lara and coach Sir Viv Richards were disappointed but not disheartened by the loss, and maintained they would learn enough lessons from the defeat quickly enough to have the team in competitive mood for the second Test.

New Zealand won the Test but lost the services of their senior opening batsman Matt Horne, who had a finger broken by a Franklyn Rose flier during New Zealand's brief second innings.

His replacement is likely to be either Matthew Bell or Matthew Sinclair.

© The Barbados Nation