Lara leads Windies fightback

New Zealand were comprehensively outplayed yesterday at the newly-built Beausejour cricket ground in the St Lucian countryside.

First they batted inadequately, managing only 210 in 50 overs, at least 50 runs short of a competitive target. Their opening bowlers then crumbled in the face of a withering assault from Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who scored 33 in the first five overs.

Lara who was dropped down the batting order in Saturday’s match. came in at his usual No.4 slot to join Ramnaresh Sarwan, who stroked an elegant 42.

Sarwan was the youngest first-class cricketer in the West Indies when he played for Guyana at 15 and he and Lara put on a match-winning 77 for the third wicket before Sarwan was trapped leg before wicket by Chris Harris.

Lara, who won the man-of-the-match award, then took control, hitting five fours and a mighty six. His controlled 50 came up in 73 balls and his innings lasted 84 deliveries as he scored his 48th one-day half century.