Close West Indies 250 for 4 (49.1 overs: Chanderpaul 108*, Hooper 47, Sarwan 44, Hitchcock 3-43) beat New Zealand 248 for 7 (50 overs: Fleming 89, Styris 85, Collins 3-33) by six wickets
scorecard

Shivnarine Chanderpaul stroked an elegant century to guide the West Indies to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in front of 10,000 St Lucians at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, the latest venue for international cricket.

Dropped twice, once by wicketkeeper Chris Nevin when he had not scored, Chanderpaul repaid captain Carl Hooper's decision to move him to the opener from his usual position at number six with a match-winning 108 in 139 balls.

Chasing New Zealand's total of 248, Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle (30) put on 55 for the first wicket before Gayle was caught by Daniel Vettori off Daryl Tuffey. That was to be New Zealand's last success until the 34th over when Ramnaresh Sarwan was bowled by Paul Hitchcock for 44 (141 for 2).

The damage was done by then, although New Zealand's medium pacers kept the run rate down. Coming in ahead of Brian Lara at number four, captain Carl Hooper hit a quickfire 47 in 47 balls to keep the run rate going, although New Zealand debutant Paul Hitchcock kept the match alive with three quick wickets. Eventually Chanderpaul, batting with a runner in the final overs because of cramp, and Brian Lara knocked off the winning runs, Lara hitting a four off the first ball of the last over to win the match.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming guided New Zealand to 248 with a flawless innings of 89 while all-rounder Scott Styris bludgeoned an aggressive 85 in 81 balls as New Zealand set a competitive target. Barbados left-armer Pedro Collins tore through the top order in a burst of three wickets in five balls to leave New Zealand in deep trouble at 55 for 4 before Fleming and Styris re-built the innings with a 90-run partnership. While Fleming was patient and built his innings, Styris smashed his way to his top score in international cricket, hitting seven fours and three sixes.

New Zealand started disastrously when Nathan Astle was bowled by Merv Dillon, but Fleming and Chris Nevin, with 15, put on 50 for the second wicket before wicketkeeper Nevin was caught behind, the first of Collins's victims. Collins then snatched two wickets in three balls, bowling Craig McMillan, who scored 69 in Kingston, for a duck before trapping Chris Harris leg before, also for 0. Lou Vincent and Fleming added a patient 58 before Vincent was bowled by Ryan Hinds for 33.

Fleming and Styris then consolidated, batting carefully against tight bowling from Collins and slow bowlers Ryan Hinds, Chris Gayle and captain Carl Hooper. After putting on 90, Fleming was eventually bowled by Gayle as he tried to accelerate. His 116-ball 89 included eight fours.

Styris then took charge, smashing his 85 in just 81 balls, including seven fours and three massive sixes. Dillon suffered most, ending with 2for 60 from his 10 overs while Cameron Cuffy was hit for 43 from just seven overs. Collins finished with 3 or 33 from nine overs and was the pick of the West Indies bowlers.

Teams
New Zealand 1 Stephen Fleming (capt), 2 Nathan Astle, 3 Chris Nevin (wk), 4 CD McMillan, 5 Chris Harris, 6 Lou Vincent, 7 Scott Styris, 8 Daniel Vettori, 9 Daryl Tuffey, 10 Shane Bond, 11 Paul Hitchcock.

West Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Brian Lara, 5 Carl Hooper (capt), 6 Wavell Hinds, 7 Ridley Jacobs (wk), 8 Ryan Hinds, 9 Mervyn Dillon, 10 Pedro Collins, 11 Cameron Cuffy.

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