The BLACKCAPS will seek 201 runs to win the second One-Day International of the National Bank Series against the West Indies at Queenstown.
The West Indies posted 200 for nine from their 50 overs after being put into bat by Stephen Fleming, in his 250th One-Day International.
Wavell Hinds was the West Indies’ key man, making 75 after entering the match at 60 for four with the visitors in trouble.
He was one of two victims for Shane Bond, for 21 runs, with Michael Mason also taking two for 32 from eight before his replacement by Jeetan Patel.
An expert spell of bowling from the BLACKCAPS seamers, at one point rendering the batsmen scoreless for three overs, kept the run rate low.
Fleming began his 249th for the BLACKCAPS – he made one appearance for an ICC World XI - with a good omen by winning the toss. His side included Lou Vincent, who returned as Hamish Marshall stepped aside.
And after limiting the West Indies opening pair of Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga, Bond bamboozled Gayle with an inswinger to dismiss him without scoring.
A third-over delivery went wide of the left hander, before swinging to clip the top of his leg stump.
After a miserly opening 10 overs by the BLACKCAPS seam attack – Bond, James Franklin and Michael Mason, the visitors average only one run per over.
And they were sent deeper into the mire when Mason removed Ganga for seven, with Brendon McCullum gratefully catching behind the stumps.
Ramnaresh Sarwan came to the middle but hit only 14 of 27 runs in partnership with Runako Morton before the Mason-McCullum combination worked again in the 17th over.
A captain’s innings was needed by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, but the Guayanese once again to be compromised to his unorthodox stance.
Having been nutmegged by Jeetan Patel in Wellington, he edged a Franklin delivery on to his stumps having made 17.
Morton pressed on, though, and played an anchor role in a 70-run fifth-wicket stand with Hinds. However, the Leeward Islands batsman fell for 39, attempting a six-hit off Daniel Vettori which fell short to Nathan Astle at deep mid-wicket.
Hinds put on another 28 with Dwayne Smith (14) before the latter’s hesitant running was exploited by Scott Styris, whose accuracy gave McCullum time to complete a straightforward run out.
Hinds looked the man to take his team over the 200 mark, but became McCullum’s third catch of the innings, off Bond.
Substitute Patel had by then replaced Mason and took the wicket of Ian Bradshaw, for five, in the penultimate over.
Chasing runs in the final over off Bond, Edwards was run out for two seeking a second off the last ball.
And after keeping their opposition to four runs an over, the BLACKCAPS’ run chasing experts will be confident of surpassing the total.
