Story Rise of the Kiwis

[saladguy]

Great stuff and a great win. I will be keeping an eye on this :cool:

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Kiwis include Ewen Thompson in Twenty20
cricinfo staff
17th January, 2009

Ewen Thompson, the Central Districts left-arm fast bowler, is the only new face in New Zealand's Twenty20 squad for the two internationals against West Indies. Jacob Oram, who is ruled out of the second test after missing the first one owing to a calf strain, has been included but he may play only as a batsman.

"Thompson makes the side because of his outstanding Twenty20 statistics - 16 wickets at an average of 17 and an economy rate of 6.97," Glenn Turner, the chief selector, said. "He's also top of the rankings in the State Championship right now."

The omissions from the Test squad include Peter Fulton, Tim McIntosh and Iain O'Brien. "A Twenty20 side has a different look from a Test side - it's a different game and has different requirements." said Turner "We haven't really played a lot of Twenty20 and we're still gaining experience. If we're going to pick up our game we need a good depth of players who can deliver in this arena."

Thompson, 29, has played 40 first-class games and 38 one-dayers for Central Districts since his debut in 1999-00. He has three first-class hundreds and five first-class fifties. The Twenty20s will be played in Auckland and Hamilton on January 26 and 28.

New Zealand Daniel Vettori (capt), Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Ian Butler, Brendon McCullum (wk), Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Ewen Thompson. ​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

O'Brien swings into West Indies on opening day
cricinfo staff
19th January, 2009

New Zealand 52 for 0 trail West Indies 201 (Nash 63, O'Brien 6-49) by 149 runs

Iain O'Brien wreaked havoc on a juicy McLean Park pitch to leave New Zealand in firm control before Brendon Nash's half-century lent the West Indies total some degree of respectability. O'Brien's 6 for 49 was his best ever figures and restricted them to 201. New Zealand's openers then strengthened their team's hand with a solid start, closing on 52 without loss after bad light stopped play 11 overs before the scheduled close.

O'Brien quickly justified Daniel Vettori's decision to bowl first after winning what proved to be a crucial toss. Swinging the ball back sharply into the right-handers and extracting steep lift, especially with the new ball, he ripped through West Indies' top order in the first hour, taking three wickets in nine balls to leave them reeling at 41 for 4, a position from which they were never able to full recover despite a fighting 63 from Nash.

O'Brien, an unlikely looking sportsman with his stiff, pumping run-up, was a class act and head and shoulders above the main support bowlers, including James Franklin, who lacked penetration. New Zealand relied heavily on O'Brien during the first two sessions, but as he ran out of steam after tea, Jesse Ryder stepped up with his accurate dibbly-dobblers, taking 3 for 30 to wrap up the tail.

Jerome Taylor bent the ball around in his first couple of overs and might easily have accounted for Tim McIntosh with one loud lbw appeal. But McIntosh, who started to leave the ball with brave skill, and Peter Fulton battled through the key threat of the new ball and then started to capitalise on a few loose offerings from Darren Powell and Fidel Edwards. Edwards, the second innings hero of the first test for West Indies, beat the bat on a couple of occasions and both openers appeared uncomfortable with his pace.

The first session, though, may have a large bearing on the outcome of this game. Chris Gayle started the procession with a duck when he sliced to third slip in the first over. Ramnaresh Sarwan, after a couple of stylish shots, then cut short the brightest partnership of the morning, a brisk 34-run stand with Xavier Masrhall, and precipitated the innings' freefall by flashing a catch into the gully off a short and wide delivery.

Sarwan's departure was quickly followed by the loss of two more wickets as West Indies slumped from 34 for 1 to 41 for 4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul's two half centuries in the first game was long forgotten as he lost his balance and was trapped lbw by a curving full-length inswinger. Marshall, who swished his way to 22, was neatly pouched by Ryder high to his right after a edging an excellent outswinger.

Nash and debutant Leon Johnson attempted a rescue operation but progress was painfully slow as O'Brien probed away menacingly. Daniel Vettori, meanwhile, was less threatening but gun-barrel tight and difficult to score off. Finally, after adding 19 runs in 11.5 overs, Johnson, who was exposed against the short ball on several occasions, gloved a nasty O'Brien delivery that cut-back and climbed too sharply for him to take any action. The breakthrough brought the keeper Denesh Ramdin to the crease. the keeper couldn't cash in and was caught at slips.

Franklin cleaned up Taylor a few minutes after and West Indies were in dire straits on 86 for 7. That was when Nash and Darren Powell (41) mounted a rescue operation. Nash had been tortuously slow in the morning, scoring 11 from 57 balls, but after lunch he was more fluent. He was helped by some butter-fingered catching throughout the day. McIntosh missed a bat-pad catch on 7 and then Flynn spilled slip catches on 9 and 28, the second of which cracked him on the inside of the knee and sent him back to the dressing room for the rest of the day.

With Nash steadily growing in stature, playing one lordly extra cover-drive off Butler, Powell also settled, successfully flicking away boundaries to third man and fine leg. New Zealand grew increasingly frustrated at having let the West Indies off the hook and the eighth-wicket pair added 79 priceless runs. In the end it took a marginal lbw call to separate them as Powell was hit on the front pad by an Ryder inswinger. West Indies had fought back from a perilous situation but the odds were still heavily stacked against them at the end of the day.

How they were out

Chris Gayle c Taylor b O'Brien 0 (0 for 1)
Fell to sharp catch at third slip.

Ramnaresh Sarwan c McIntosh b O'Brien 16 (34 for 2)
Flashed at wide delivery and caught in slips.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul lbw O'Brien 1 (36 for 3)
Beaten by movement back into his pads.

Xavier Marshall c Ryder b O'Brien 22 (41 for 4)
Edged off-stump delivery low into slips.

Leon Johnson c McCullum b O'Brien (60 for 5)
Gloved while taking evasive action.

Denesh Ramdin c Taylor b O'Brien 7 (80 for 6)
Edged a good-length ball to second slip.

Jerome Taylor b Franklin 5 (86 for 7)
Squared up by a full-length outswinger.

Darren Powell lbw Ryder 41 (165 for 8)
Marginal lbw call on front foot

Suliemann Benn c Taylor b Ryder 12 (190 for 9)
Sliced into gully where brilliantly pouched

Brendon Nash lbw Ryder 63 (201 for 10)
Unluckily adjudged lbw after nicking straight outswinger​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

New Zealand sneak ahead with Taylor and McCullum
cricinfo staff
20th January, 2009

New Zealand 243 for 4 (Taylor 69*, McCullum 60*, McIntosh 47, Taylor 4-59) lead West Indies 201 by 42 runs

Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum strengthened New Zealand's grip on the second Test on a day that started under clear skies and ended 16 overs early after a thick fog enveloped Napier. West Indies may hope it stays because New Zealand, who finished on 243 for 4, are in the driving seat with a 42-run lead and six wickets still in the bag.

However, West Indies never let New Zealand's batsmen cut loose and soon after the lunch break they had clawed back much of the initiative squandered on the first day as Jerome Taylor, who bounced back from a lacklustre performance in the first Test, pinned Tim McIntosh (47) lbw and had Jesse Ryder caught at bat-pad first ball. New Zealand were creaking on 143 for 4, and still trailing by 58 runs.

But Taylor, bedded down for an innings of unblinking concentration and patience. Unfazed by long periods of no scoring, including a 10-over spell when he was marooned on 54, he chipped away at the West Indies lead and anchored the innings, finishing with 69 from 188 balls.

Taylor compiled a steadying 73-run stand with McIntosh for the third wicket in the morning after an early Taylor double strike and then a crucial, unbroken 100-run partnership with McCullum. The pair drained the enthusiasm from West Indies' players and consolidated New Zealand's advantage.

The only real Ross Taylor blemish was a dropped chance by Brendon Nash at slip off Suliemann Benn on 54. It was a difficult reflex chance as the ball, delivered from around the wicket into the footholes, traveled low to the right of Nash. One edge also flew perilously close to third slip in the morning session.

McCullum, meanwhile, showed no obvious discomfort, and knuckled down to regain his touch. His unbeaten 60 from 123 balls was a workmanlike innings blessed with the odd flash of his best form, including a couple of well-timed clips and one spanking cover drive.

Taylor provided the major threat throughout the day, clearly enjoying the traditional swing-bowler conditions. He bent the ball back into the right-handers' pads and occasional nipped it away off the seam and through the air, beating the bat on several occasions and also snapping up the early wickets of the Fulton and Flynn. Peter Fulton (28) missed a curling inswinger and Daniel Flynn edged a straighter ball to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at first slip, who clung on despite an initial fumble.

Taylor was well supported by Darren Powell, who bowled a tidy spell of nippy inswing at the start of the day, conceding 14 runs from 10 overs. Powell might have broken through when McIntosh, on 31, looked to have been dropped by Denesh Ramdin behind the stumps off a delivery that cut back sharply and, according to television replays, brushed the inside edge.

Gayle - mindful of Ryder's valuable contribution with his dibbly-dobblers the previous day - decided to give Nash a bowl after Taylor. It was a brave but thoughtful gamble. It did not pay off with a wicket but Nash kept it tight - one glorious straight six by Taylor excluded - during a six-over spell.

Jerome Taylor's improved form was contrasted by Fidel Edwards, who lacked the sparkle that made him West Indies' trump card at Dunedin. He did produce a couple of searing yorkers in his final evening spell before the new ball was taken, but he was also the most wayward of the seamers. Gayle was reluctant to use him as he tried to put a lid on New Zealand's scoring.

How they were out

Peter Fulton lbw b Taylor 28 (61 for 1)
Played across an inswinger.

Daniel Flynn c Chanderpual b Taylor 6 (70 for 1)
Edged straighter ball while driving on the up.

Tim McIntosh lbw b Taylor 47 (143 for 3)
Beaten by an indipper.

Jesse Ryder c Johnson b Taylor 0 (143 for 4)
Caught at short leg after inside-edge onto pad.​

 

[treva]

Great win for the New Zealand side in the first test and now a brilliant performance in the second. They really are using the conditions well. Taylor and mcCullum have steady the ship after a small collapse. They will be looking for a lead of at least 150 now.

 

[mrtwisties]

This is fantastic stuff.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Taylor's 214 cracks frustrated West Indies
cricinfo staff
20th January, 2009

West Indies 201 and 10 for 1 trail New Zealand 512 for 9 dec (Taylor 214, McCullum 88, Taylor 6-108) by 301 runs

Ross Taylor's magnificent 214, the eighth-highest Test score by a New Zealander, left West Indies looking down the barrel of a series white-wash as their opponents piled up a mountainous 512 for 9. Iain O'Brien then added to West Indies' misery by firing out Xavier Marshall to leave them in desperate trouble on 10 for 1, still trailing by 301 runs with two days to play.

After showcasing unflappable composure, a lot of patience and determination during the first half of his innings, a period in which there were a handful of stages where runs dried up completely, Ross Taylor changed the tempo of the game on the third afternoon and emphatically seized complete control for New Zealand with an assault.

He had crawled along during a wet, windy and cold first session, adding just 14 runs and finishing on 83 from 219 balls, but the departure of Brendon McCullum and Ian Butler in quick succession shortly before lunch proved the turning point as he was forced out of his shell.

During the afternoon he sped along, collecting an additional 131 runs in 129 balls. During the spree he notched his second highest first-class score and his maiden double-century. He also shared crucial lower-order stands of 48 with James Franklin (15), 98 with Daniel Vettori (31), and 59 with Jeetan Patel (32 not out) that left West Indies deeply frustrated.

Highly intense at the start of the innings as he tried to cement a permanent berth in the middle order, Ross Taylor relaxed after passing his third Test hundred, raising both his hands in celebration at reaching 150 with a cheeky reverse sweep and then smiling with delight when Marshall, spilled a straightforward chance at deep backward square.

Given the responsibility of batting at No. 4, Taylor scored the majority of his runs on the off side, with the cover-drive a feature of his innings. In all he cracked 25 fours and four sixes, including an enormous straight drive off Gayle that landed in the top tier. Aside from Marshall's lapse, the only other chance was Leon Johnson's drop at first slip on 54.

When Jerome Taylor fired out Fleming and McCullum with consecutive deliveries before rain forced the players off for an early lunch, the lead was a moderate 83 and West Indies sniffed a chance to pull themselves back into the game. But Ross Taylor quickly stole back the initiative with Franklin and his lower-order colleagues.

Franklin's resistance was ended by a Fidel Edwards toe-crusher, but was followed by a useful cameo from Vettori, whose contribution included a six struck so sweetly off Edwards that it sailed out of the ground, where it was fielded by a shopper. West Indies' upset bowlers started to run out of ideas, and it took a run-out to finally end Ross Taylor's knock.

In the morning, Jerome Taylor had slowed New Zealand's progress during a rain-interrupted session that yielded just 44 runs in 14.3 overs. Jerome Taylor was riding on the confidence gained from his better rhythm the previous day and moving the newish ball dangerously. While Darren Powell was picked off relatively comfortably, Taylor was menacing and grabbed his fifth and sixth wickets.

McCullum lived dangerously in the early exchanges, surviving one ferocious appeal for lbw - a good decision by Aleem Dar with the ball just creeping over the stumps - and later being given a possible reprieve when he looked to have gloved a hook. But Jerome Taylor won the battle when McCullum pulled straight into the lap of a kneeling Brendon Nash, who had been positioned 20 meters in from the backward-square boundary. McCullum had scored 88 and added a crucial 141 for the fifth wicket.

Then, for the second time in the match, Taylor was left on a hat-trick as Butler, apparently struggling to pick the ball up in the gloom, chipped back a simple return catch, an offering that was gleefully accepted and celebrated with a general chorus of whooping from his team-mates. But while the weather improved after lunch the mood of West Indies' players grew increasingly depressed. With the forecasters promising two dry days, they now need to bat superbly to avoid defeat.

How they were out

New Zealand
Brendon McCullum c Nash b Taylor 88 (284 for 5)
Top-edged swivel-hook to deep backward square

Ian Butler c & b Taylor 0 (284 for 6)
Chipped back simple return catch

James Franklin lbw Edwards 15 (332 for 7)
Failed to pick up a toe-crusher in the gloom

Daniel Vettori c Chanderpaul b Edwards 31 (430 for 8)
Top-edged pull to deep midwicket

Ross Taylor run out (Marshall) 214 (489 for 9)
Finally caught short

West Indies
Xavier Marshall c Taylor b O'Brien 2 (6 for 1)
Fenced at off-stump delivery and edged to slip​

 

[Jaztheman]

Taylor's knock has put New Zealand in an awesome position and they definitely aren't going to lose from here. As long as they get the wickets of the Lankans, they should win.

Quality stuff, Shan.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

New Zealand swing the match and win the series
cricinfo staff
22th January, 2009

New Zealand 512 for 9 dec (Taylor 214, McCullum 88, Taylor 6-108) beat West Indies 201 (Nash 63, O'Brien 6-49) and 273 (Johnson 73, Sarwan 45, Franklin 4-71) by an innings and 38 runs

New Zealand's swing bowlers outwitted West Indies' batsmen to wrap up an emphatic series-winning, innings-and-38-run victory at the McLean Park. West Indies' hopes of a successful rearguard slowly faded during the fourth day as their middle order melted in the second session. Leon Johnson fought back with a sizzling 73 from 99 balls in the evening, but by then it was too late.

Darren Powell, the nightwatchman, resisted in the morning with an impressive 36, Ramnaresh Sarwan collected 45 with a steely glint in his eye, Johnson threw caution to the wind during a daring counter-assault and Jerome Taylor stood firm for a while in making 38. But no West Indies batsman was able to construct the big hundred needed to cancel out the 311-run deficit and save the game.

James Franklin, bowling with his best rhythm of a very good series, provided the key breakthroughs, claiming the prize wicket of Chris Gayle, one player capable of counter-attacking, in the first session. He followed lunch with the scalps of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, and fittingly finished it off with the last wicket as Taylor chopped on.

Franklin's efforts were well supported by Daniel Vettori, who rediscovered some rhythm and confidence to make his first real impact with the ball in the series, and Jesse Ryder, who bowled gunbarrel-straight and wobbled it around enough to finish with 6 for 57 in the match. New Zealand's best bowler in the match, Iain O'Brien, had a quiet day, but his dismissal of Xavier Marshall yesterday started the victory charge.

For New Zealand, the 2-0 series triumph started the difficult summer on a high. After their confidence-draining hammering in Australia, they showed considerable fortitude to bounce back so strongly. The magnificent batting of Ross Taylor, an obvious choice as Man of the Match for his 214 that set up the victory, was surely the highlight.

West Indies, who were bitterly disappointed afterwards, were left ruing a disastrous wicket-tumbling first morning after losing the toss and being put in to bat. They fought hard in patches to reclaim the lost ground but were never likely to survive when the bad weather cleared, leaving them to bat six straight sessions for survival.

They started promisingly in the morning as New Zealand were left frustrated by a wicketless first hour. Vettori and Franklin initially lacked menace as the ball refused to swing, and Powell and Gayle added 43. However, with New Zealand's disappointment starting to mount, Franklin delivered the perfect line-and-length ball to draw Gayle into one of his signature high-elbowed cover-drive smash. The ball was sliding across him and he edged straight to Taylor at first slip.

Powell and Sarwan then shared a useful stand, adding 48 in an 18-over period. Vettori, however, changed the bowling shortly before the break and he himself suddenly clicked, spinning the ball away from the right-hander Powell, and eventually created a chance that was swallowed by Ryder at second slip. It ended a promising innings from Powell, who showcased his obvious long-term potential as he occupied the crease for two hours, sheltering the middle order from the new ball.

But Powell's unexpected resistance was wasted during the afternoon as his team-mates crumpled. Soon after lunch Chanderpaul (13) tried to leave a short ball from Franklin too late and ended up running a catch to Brendon McCullum off the face of his bat. Sarwan played himself in watchfully and stroked a few elegant boundaries before his off stump was flattened by a full-length inswinger that found a gap between bat and pad to leave West Indies on 137 for 5.

West Indies' problems escalated in the second hour of the session as Ryder was introduced with instant success as he persuaded Brendon Nash (17) to nibble defensively at a gentle outswinger. The ball traveled quickly to Taylor, the only slip, but straight to hand. Denesh Ramdin, under pressure, was then toppled in the final few minutes before tea by Vettori.

Johnson, who was given a thorough working-over with the short ball after an unconvincing display in the first innings, was left with the tail and he decided that West Indies' only hope was attack. He came out after the break with Jerome Taylor, all guns blazing - flashing through point, crashing through the covers and launching one mighty six straight down the ground. Jerome Taylor followed his example with some equally meaty blows.

But Johnson was taking unsustainable risks and eventually over boiled, heaving wildly against a straight ball from Ryder. It was an ugly and reckless smear that took the gloss off an entertaining innings. His departure hurried the match towards its conclusion as Suleiman Benn missed a straight ball and Taylor dragged a wide half-volley on to his stumps.

How they were out

Chris Gayle c Taylor b Franklin 16 (47 for 2)
Tried to cover-drive but edged to first slip

Darren Powell c Ryder b Vettori 36 (95 for 3)
Nicked good ball for comfortable take at second slip

Shivnarine Chanderpaul c McCullum b Franklin 13 (117 for 4)
Decided to leave too late and feathered catch behind

Ramnaresh Sarwan b Franklin 45 (137 for 5)
Missed full-length inswinger that knocked back his off peg

Brendon Nash c Taylor b Ryder 17 (164 for 6)
Prodded forward defensively and edged to first slip

Denesh Ramdin c McCullum b Vettori 1 (177 for 7)
Brilliant one-handed catch after nicking outswinger

Leon Johnson b Ryder 73 (255 for 8)
Bowled after ugly leg-side slog

Suleiman Benn b Ryder 8 (267 for 9)
Missed straight ball

Jerome Taylor b Franklin 38 (273 for 10)
Dragged on while trying to carve through the covers

West Indies  in New Zealand, 2008-09, 2nd Test
New Zealand v West Indies
McLean Park, Napier
[B]Result:[/B] New Zealand won by an innings and 38 runs
[B]Series:[/B] New Zealand wins the 2-Test series 2-0
[B]Toss:[/B] New Zealand
[B]Umpires:[/B] SA Bucknor (WI) and A Dar (Pak)
[B]Test Debut:[/B] L Johnson (WI).
[B]Man of the Match:[/B] R Taylor 

[B]West Indies 1st innings                                           R   M   B  4 6[/B]
*C Gayle              c Taylor           b O’Brien              0   4   3  0 0
X Marshall            c Ryder            b O’Brien             22  43  22  3 0
R Sarwan              c McIntosh         b O’Brien             16  26  23  3 0
S Chanderpaul         lbw                b O’Brien              1   4   3  0 0
B Nash                lbw                b Ryder               63 250 163  8 0
L Johnson             c McCullum         b O’Brien              9  50  33  2 0
+D Ramdin             c Taylor           b O’Brien              7  45  36  1 0
J Taylor                                 b Franklin             5   6   9  1 0
D Powell              lbw                b Ryder               41  97  82  6 0
S Benn                c Taylor           b Ryder               12  27  25  2 0
F Edwards             not out                                   4   8   3  1 0
Extras                (b 4, lb 5, w 1, nb 11)                  21
Total                 (all out, 65.1 overs)                   201

[B]Bowling                      O      M      R      W[/B]
O’Brien                     20      7     49      6 (1nb)
Franklin                    11      1     51      1 (9nb, 1w)
Vettori                     20      6     50      0 (1nb)
Ryder                       10.1    2     30      3
Patel                        2      0      8      0
Butler                       2      0      4      0


[B]New Zealand 1st innings                                         R   M   B  4 6[/B]
T McIntosh            lbw                b Taylor              47 217 157  5 0
P Fulton              lbw                b Taylor              28  60  45  4 0
D Flynn               c Chanderpual      b Taylor               6  25   6  0 0
R Taylor              run out (Marshall)                      214 534 348 25 4
J Ryder               c Johnson          b Taylor               0   1   1  0 0
+B McCullum           c Nash             b Taylor              88 211 176 11 1
I Butler                             c & b Taylor               0   1   1  0 0
J Franklin            lbw                b Edwards             15  53  45  2 0
*D Vettori            c Chanderpaul      b Edwards             31  90  60  5 1
J Patel               not out                                  32  60  40  4 0
I O’Brien             not out                                   4  20   9  1 0
Extras                (b 11, lb 23, w 1, nb 12)                47
Total                 (9 wickets declared, 146 overs)         512

[B]Bowling                      O      M      R      W[/B]
Taylor                      40     12    108      6 (9nb)
Edwards                     34      2    114      2 (2nb, 1w)
Powell                      28     10     96      0
Nash                         6      2     14      0
Benn                        28      4     97      0 (1nb)
Gayle                        9      2     34      0
Johnson                      1      0     15      0


[B]West Indies 2nd innings                                           R   M   B  4 6[/B]
X Marshall            c Taylor           b O’Brien              2  10   9  0 0
*C Gayle              c Taylor           b Franklin            16  88  56  1 0
D Powell              c Ryder            b Vettori             36 153 115  3 0
R Sarwan                                 b Franklin            45 147 114  7 0
S Chanderpaul         c McCullum         b Franklin            13  37  30  1 0
B Nash                c Taylor           b Ryder               17  57  38  1 0
L Johnson                                b Ryder               73 121  99 10 1
D Ramdin              c McCullum         b Vettori              1  24  18  0 0
J Taylor                                 b Franklin            38  94  72  4 1
S Benn                                   b Ryder                8  16  13  2 0
F Edwards             not out                                   0   4   1  0 0
Extras                (b 4, lb 10, w 2, nb 8)                  24
Total                 (all out, 92.5 overs)                   273


[B]Bowling                      O      M      R      W[/B]
O’Brien                     18      4     50      1 (2nb)
Vettori                     11      4     34      2 (1nb)
Butler                       1      0      2      0
Ryder                       13      4     27      3
Patel                       26      7     75      0 (1w)
Franklin                    23.5    4     71      4 (5nb)

 

[surendar]

Its WI in the scorecard Shantanu not SriLanka I think you are fond of this Lankans Really, Windies did not even stood a chance to bounce back. Kiwis deserved to win this. Well done :hpraise

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Ramdin named vice-captain for ODIs
cricinfo staff
24th January, 2009

Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin has been named as Chris Gayle's deputy for the five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals on the tour of New Zealand. Ramdin, who was not part of the team for the recent ODIs in Abu Dhabi, replaces Ramnaresh Sarwan as vice-captain. Sarwan was the vice-captain for the Test Series which New Zealand won 2-0 and the squad included Ramdin.

Besides Ramdin, fast bowler Fidel Edwards and allrounder Kieron Pollard make a return to the ODI side, with batsman Leon Johnson, fast bowler Kemar Roach and chinaman bowler Dave Mohammed left out from the team that was in Abu Dhabi against Pakistan.

Ramdin's appointment comes as a surprise. He had been dropped from West Indies' ODI squad for the tri-series in Canada in August and the postponed Champions Trophy. Since January 2007, Ramdin has averaged 14.11 with only one half-century from 33 ODIs.

He was also not part of the victorious Stanford Superstars squad at the Stanford 20/20 for 20; instead he steered Trinidad & Tobago to the US$280,000 prize in their clash with fellow domestic champions Middlesex. Ramdin, with 91 runs from three games, finished as the second highest run-getter in the Super Series.

As in the Test squad, West Indies had named two keepers, Carlton Baugh along with Ramdin. Another Trinidad & Tobago player, Pollard, makes it to the team. Pollard scored 120 runs in two innings in the premier domestic one-day tournament - which T&T won, as well as taking nine wickets at 14.22. He made his ODI debut for West Indies in a World Cup match against South Africa last year but has since played only three more times, the last against Australia in June.

Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn will stay on after the Tests for the two Twenty20 internationals on December 26 and 28. The five-ODI series begins on December 31.

West Indies limited-overs squad: Xavier Marshall, Chris Gayle (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Kieron Pollard, Shawn Findlay, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Carlton Baugh (wk), Fidel Edwards, Brendan Nash, Nikita Miller, Daren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn (only for the Twenty20 internationals).​

 

[surendar]

Gayle's inconsistency has to be rectified first if Windies are thinking to stand a chance for winning this trophy!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Pollard smashed Patel for 4 sixes as West Indies win
cricinfo staff
24th January, 2009

West Indies 175 for 8 (Sarwan 43, Franklin 2-34) beat New Zealand 152 (Vettori 61, Powell 3-18) by 22 runs

Kieron Pollard smashed Jeetan Patel for four sixes in an over, to set West Indies on their way to a comfortable 22-run victory in the first Twenty20 at Auckland. On an excellent batting track, Pollard's intervention in the 15th over transformed an attainable total into an imposing one, and when Darren Powell removed the dangermen Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in his second over, New Zealand's challenge fell away. Daniel Vettori, with 61 from 40 balls, kept their hopes alive until the final over, but it was Powell, fittingly, who sealed the win with figures of 3 for 18.

Ramnaresh Sarwan showed signs of his best form as he muscled his way to 43 from 23 balls, Brendon Nash and Denesh Ramdin played attractive cameos, and aside from Xavier Marshall, who was dismissed before he got going, each of West Indies' top-order reached double figures at more than a run a ball.

West Indies' dominance began from the moment the match got underway. West Indies lost the toss and were inserted, but Chris Gayle started with real intent, slashing two fours in Tim Southee's first over, closely followed by a violent six over midwicket off James Franklin. Gayle fell in the same manner one over later, as Jesse Ryder took a comfortable catch in the deep to calm his nerves on his return after injury, but Sarwan clipped his first ball through square leg for four to maintain West Indies' tempo.

Sarwan, has managed only 12 runs as his highest score in Twenty20 cricket and that came against South Africa. But today he seemed set to add more runs to his tally. He clobbered six fours in his first 14 balls, then launched Franklin for a vast six down the ground, but New Zealand's fielders lived up to their reputations throughout the innings. With Sarwan on cruise control, Ross Taylor at short midwicket intercepted a screaming on-drive in Patel's first over.

Shivnarine Chanderpual by this stage had been and gone, bowled for 12 from 10 balls by Vettori's quicker yorker, but Nash and Ramdin kept the total ticking along. Nash played one expansive stroke, a mighty flick for six off Patel, and later clobbered a Southee full-toss for four, while Ramdin saved his most savage strokes for the 19-year-old, Tim Southee, whom he clipped for two fours and a sweet six over midwicket.

However it was another new-comer, who did for Ramdin. Ryder entered the attack in the 13th over and with his second ball he beat an attempted sweep and claimed the plumbest of lbw decisions. That was his only over. Instead Vettori tossed the ball to his second spinner, Patel, whom Pollard bludgeoned four times in an over, on the legside. Patel did have his revenge when Pollard picked him out with an uppercut to third man, but with 31 from 14 balls, he had made the difference to West Indies' total.

New Zealand's tough task was made all the tougher when Powell got hold of the new ball. Finding prodigious swing, and good pace and accuracy, he cut McCullum off in his prime with a surprise short ball that was gloved to Nash at short cover, before trapping Taylor plumb lbw for a second-ball duck.

Ryder responded with a series of brusque boundaries to keep New Zealand in touch with a spiraling run-rate, but wickets kept falling to peg their ambitions back. Scott Styris picked out Sarwan at long-on with a slog down the ground, Ryder himself was run out two balls later as he backed up to a drive into the covers, and when Jacob Oram and James Franklin were bowled in consecutive overs by Pollard and Jerome Taylor respectively, New Zealand had slumped to 70 for 6.

New Zealand weren't finished just yet. Butler smacked a massive six over the covers off Taylor, only then to fall victim to the catch of the match, as Fidel Edwards parried another exocet just inside the rope, and braced himself for the rebound before he toppled over.

Vettori took up the cudgels with a brace of fours off Nikita Miller and a six and a four off Nash, but he had also to farm the strike to protect his tail - and that's not exactly easy in Twenty20 cricket. Patel and Thompson helped New Zealand attain respectability, as the last two wickets added 50 runs in five overs, and the match was sealed with four balls to spare as Chanderpual at long-off clung on to a sizzling drive.

West Indies  in New Zealand, 2008-09, 1st Twenty20 International
New Zealand v West Indies
McLean Park, Napier
[B]Result:[/B] West Indies won by 22 runs
[B]Series:[/B] West Indies lead the 2-Twenty20 series 1-0
[B]Toss:[/B] New Zealand
[B]Umpires:[/B] G Baxter and B Bowden
[B]Twenty20 Debut:[/B] E Thompson (NZ).
[B]Man of the Match:[/B] K Pollard 

[B][B]West Indies innings                                             R   M   B  4 6[/B][/B]
*C Gayle              c Ryder            b Franklin            20  13  13  1 0
X Marshall            c McCullum         b Franklin             1   6   3  0 0
R Sarwan              c Taylor           b Patel               43  36  23  6 1
S Chanderpaul                            b Vettori             12  15  10  2 0
B Nash                c Oram             b Thompsen            16  46  22  1 1
+D Ramdin             lbw                b Ryder               23  13  17  2 1
K Pollard             c Patel            b Southee             31  14  14  1 4
N Miller              not out                                  15  15  10  2 0
J Taylor              c Styris           b Southee              6   5   4  1 0
D Powell              not out                                   5   5   4  1 0
Extras                (lb 1, w 1)                               2
Total                 (8 wickets, 20 overs)                   174

[B]Bowling                      O      M      R      W[/B]
Southee                      4      0     43      2
Franklin                     4      0     24      2
Vettori                      4      0     25      1 (1w)
Patel                        3      0     42      1
Thompsen                     4      0     38      1
Ryder                        1      0      2      1


[B]New Zealand innings                                             R   M   B  4 6[/B]
J Ryder               run out(Chanderpaul/Pollard)             22  34  21  4 0
+B McCullum           c Nash             b Powell               9  10   7  0 1
R Taylor              lbw                b Powell               0   2   2  0 0
S Styris              c Sarwan           b Pollard              6  17   8  1 0
J Oram                                   b Pollard              1   9   8  0 0
J Franklin                               b Taylor               8  12   9  1 0
*D Vettori            c Chanderpaul      b Powell              61  47  40  7 2
I Butler              c Edwards          b Miller              11  12   8  0 1
T Southee             c Pollard          b Nash                 1   4   2  0 0
J Patel                                  b Edwards              5  10   5  0 0
E Thompson            not out                                   5  12   6  0 0
Extras                (lb 17, w 6)                             23
Total                 (all out 19.2 overs)                    152

[B]Bowling                      O      M      R      W[/B]
Powell                       3.2    0     18      3 (2w)
Edwards                      4      0     29      1 (3w)
Taylor                       4      0     25      1
Pollard                      4      0     19      2
Miller                       2      0     16      1 (1w)
Nash                         1      0     15      1
Gayle                        1      0     13      0

 

[surendar]

Pollard played a match winner role in this match. His role with bat and ball was clearly a moment of success for West Indies.

Keep up the great works

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Focused West Indies complete emphatic win
cricinfo staff
28th January, 2009

West Indies 183 for 8 (Nash 54, Ramdin 37) beat New Zealand 133 for 8 (Styris 26, Vettori 25*, Powell 2-14) by 50 runs

A proficient and professional allround display from West Indies took them to an emphatic 50-run win over New Zealand in the second and final Twenty20 At Seddon Park. With the one-day series two days away, West Indies are bristling with confidence and New Zealand have it all to do.

West Indies were in control from the outset, with Chris Gayle and Xavier Marshall launching an exuberant attack at the top of the order before Brendon Nash and Denesh Ramdin steered them to 183 for 8, in an excellent fifth-wicket stand of 92. Impressively, all their bowlers played a part with Darren Powell particularly accurate while Kieron Pollard's underrated dobblers accounted for Scott Styris and Jacob Oram. New Zealand were never in the hunt.

New Zealand's chase of a demanding target began badly, Jesse Ryder falling with the score on 14 before Brendon McCullum, was bowled by a fine yorker from Powell and New Zealand were reduced to 19 for 2. Ross Taylor briefly threatened to make a fist of things with a brutal 21, lifting Jerome Taylor for a six over midwicket and a rocketed four through the same leg-side region. And when he smashed Fidel Edwards for the biggest six of the night over midwicket, there were tentative signs that New Zealand could yet chase down 184. It wasn't to be, however, and Taylor was well caught by Chanderpaul jogging backwards at cover.

Styris cracked 26 from 25 before he was bowled around his legs by the canny Pollard - an awful shot in the circumstances - and James Franklin, lasted two balls to leave New Zealand limping on 84 for 7. Daniel Vettori, with 25 off 22 balls, briefly threatened a revival but when Powell bowled Kyle Mills for 13 - finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 14 from his four overs - it was as good as over.

West Indies were livewires in the field and accurate with the ball, but neither adjective could be used to describe New Zealand's effort earlier in the evening. Mills and James Franklin both began tidily, but Marshall and Gayle took advantage of the very short boundary to immediately levy the balance putting on 65 inside six overs. Gayle got off the mark with a fortuitous outside edge for six, over point, following it up with an ugly clubbed six over long-off.

Meanwhile, Marshall - who before today hadn't taken to international Twenty20s - was less assured but soon capitalised on a wayward comeback from Southee, replacing Jeetan Patel. Like Patel, who was hammered in the first Twenty20 two days ago, Southee was treated with disdain by Marshall, who whistled a ferocious four through the covers before lifting him over the top for six. After five overs, West Indies were 57 without loss and motoring.

However, Marshall's dismissal in the next over brought about a mid-order slump that gave the home crowd something to cheer about. Ramnaresh Sarwan went for 3 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul - who ran himself out with a brainless single to mid-on - for 1. West Indies' hopes of passing 200 were fading and, when Gayle was superbly held by Mills on the long-on boundary, New Zealand had the visitors at 76 for 4.

In came Nash and Ramdin and they immediately turned West Indies' fortunes around with a fine stand of 92 in just 10.2 overs. Ramdin got off the mark with a neat pull off Thompson, but he spared the punishment for Ryder who was carved for 16 in one particularly drab over - the highlight, a flat and fiercely struck six over long-off. Nash was even more urgent than Ramdin, favouring the leg-side to smack Tim Southee over the top for six before driving the same bowler past extra cover.

West Indies were suddenly on the charge again and Nash brought up a 24-ball fifty with his third six, flinging Vettori over the square leg boundary. Southee, after being lambasted for 37 from a couple of overs, found redemption when Ramdin smacked him straight to long-off. The very next ball, Nash mistimed another leg-side heave and found Styris lurking at long-on.

Pollard survived the hat-trick delivery in his own inimitable style, upper-cutting him over backward point - but although he couldn't replicate his six-hitting of two days ago, West Indies' 184 was more than enough.

West Indies  in New Zealand, 2008-09, 2nd Twenty20 International
New Zealand v West Indies
Seddon Park, Hamilton
[B]Result:[/B] West Indies won by 50 runs
[B]Series:[/B] West Indies win the 2-Twenty20 series 2-0
[B]Toss:[/B] England
[B]Umpires:[/B] G Baxter and B Bowden
[B]Man of the Match:[/B] B Nash 

[B]West Indies innings                                             R   M   B  4 6[/B]
*C Gayle              c Mills            b Vettori             40  39  24  3 3
X Marshall                               b Mills               30  24  19  5 1
R Sarwan              lbw                b Vettori              3   5   3  0 0
S Chanderpaul         run out(Taylor)                           1   3   4  0 0
B Nash                c Styris           b Southee             54  43  28  5 3
+D Ramdin             c Taylor           b Southee             37  36  35  3 2
K Pollard             Run out(Franklin/McCullum)               11   7   4  1 1
L Baker               not out                                   3   7   2  0 0
J Taylor              c Ryder           b Franklin              0   1   1  0 0
Extras                (lb 1, w 3)                               4
Total                 (8 wickets, 20 overs)                   183

[B]Bowling                      O      M      R      W[/B]
Franklin                     4      0     35      1 (1w)
Mills                        4      0     35      1 (1w)
Southee                      3      0     43      2 (1w)
Vettori                      4      0     22      2
Thompsen                     3      0     25      0
Ryder                        2      0     22      0


[B]New Zealand innings                                             R   M   B  4 6[/B]
J Ryder               c Nash             b Taylor              12  10  13  2 0
+B McCullum                              b Powell               5  15   9  0 0
R Taylor              c Chanderpaul      b Edwards             21  13  10  1 2
S Styris                                 b Pollard             26  33  25  3 0
J Oram                                   b Pollard             13  15  14  0 1
D Flynn               c Edwards          b Baker                2   4   5  0 0
J Franklin            c Marshall         b Baker                1   7   2  0 0
*D Vettori            not out                                  25  29  22  2 1
K Mills                                  b Powell              13  14  11  1 1
T Southee             not out                                  12  10  10  2 0
Extras                (lb 2, nb 1)                              3
Total                 (8 wickets, 20 overs)                   133

[B]Bowling                      O      M      R      W[/B]
Taylor                       4      0     31      1 
Powell                       4      0     14      2 
Edwards                      4      0     31      1 (1nb)
Pollard                      4      0     25      2
Baker                        4      0     30      2