Kiwis fall to Windies8217; pace

SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 24: The West Indies steadied their tottering World Cup campaign with an emphatic seven-wicket win over the high-flying N...

SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 24: The West Indies steadied their tottering World Cup campaign with an emphatic seven-wicket win over the high-flying New Zealand in a low-scoring Group B8217; tie here today.

Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs struck a superb unbeaten 80 after snapping up a World Cup record-equalling five catches and flamboyant skipper Brian Lara hit 36 as the twice former champions coasted to 158 for three wickets in 44.2 overs after skittling out the Kiwis for their lowest World Cup score of 156 in 48.1 overs at the Hampshire Cricket Ground.

Paceman Merwyn Dillon captured a superb four for 46 and cut through the Kiwi late order as the West Indian bowlers laid the groundwork for victory under helpful conditions after Lara won the toss and put in the opposition.

Veterans Courtney Walsh 1-23 and Curtly Ambrose 1-19 made early inroads before Dillon, Reon King 2-29 and Phil Simmons 2-33 took over to wreck the New Zealand innings.

The second win in three matches brought the West Indies back into reckoningfor a super six spot, which they can look to clinch against lowly Scotland at Leicester on May 27 before meeting the beleaguered Australia at Old Trafford on May 30.

New Zealand, who upset the Aussies by five wickets at Cardiff, also have four points from two wins and meet the formidable Pakistan on May 28 and Scotland on May 31.

Jacobs 80 notout: 131b, 6215;4, 1215;6 earlier claimed five dismissals as wicketkeeper to equal the feat of India8217;s Syed Kirmani and Nayan Mongia, Pakistan8217;s Rashid Latif and Moin Khan besides his own teammate Jimmy Adams.

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Chasing a modest 157 to win, the islanders ensured they did not succumb as they did against Pakistan, when they went down to a 27-run defeat chasing 230 for victory.

While the West Indies crawled to 49 for two after 21 overs, Lara ventured on the scene to play some delightful shots, clouting the usually tight seamer Gavin Larsen for a mighty straight six.

After Lara fell for 36 the powerful left-hander Jacobs, guided his team to victory alongwith StuartWilliams 14 not out, producing some superb shots and hoisting left-arm paceman Geoff Allott for a huge six in the late stages.

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND

MJ Horne c Lara b Walsh 2
NJ Astle c Jacobs b Ambrose 2
CD McMillan c Jacobs b Simmons 32
SP Fleming c Jacobs b King 0
RG Twose c Williams b King 0
CL Cairns c Lara b Dillon 23
AC Parore c Jacobs b Dillon 23
CZ Harris c Campbell b Dillon 30
DJ Nash c Williams b Dillon 1
GR Larsen c Jacobs b Simmons 14
GI Allott not out 0
Extras lb 6, w 17, nb 6: 29
Total all out, 48.1 overs 156
Fall of wickets: 1-2 Astle, 1.6 ov, 2-13 Horne, 4.5 ov, 3-22 Fleming, 10.3 ov, 4-31 Twose, 16.4 ov, 5-59 McMillan, 25.1 ov, 6-75 Cairns, 30.5 ov, 7-125 Parore, 40.3 ov, 8-130 Nash, 42.5 ov, 9-155 Larsen, 47.4 ov, 10-156 Harris, 48.1 ov.
Bowling: Walsh 10 1 23 1 4nb, 2w; Ambrose 10 0 19 1 2w; King 10 1 29 2 1nb, 5w; Simmons 9 2 33 2 1nb, 4w; Dillon 9.1 0 46 43w.

WEST INDIES

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SL Campbell lbw b Nash 8
RD Jacobs not out 80
JC Adams c Parore b Allott
BC Lara c Nash b Harris 36
SC Williams not out 14
Extras lb 4, w 5, nb 8: 17
Total 3 wickets, 44.2 overs 158
Did not bat: S Chanderpaul, PV Simmons, CEL Ambrose, M Dillon, RD King, CA Walsh.
Fall of wickets: 1-29 Campbell, 9.6, 2-49 Adams, 20.5, 3-121 Lara, 35.4.
Bowling: Allott 10-2-39-1 2nb, 1w; Nash 10-2-25-1 3nb, 3w; Cairns 9.2-1-42-0 3nb, 1w; Larsen 7-1-29-0; Harris 8-2-19-1.

RESULT: West Indies win by seven wickets

Man of the match: RD Jacobs