Published: Jan 11, 2014, 01:43 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 11, 2014, 11:57 PM (IST)
Auckland: Jan 11, 2014
Brendon McCullum and Luke Ronchi shared in a rapid-fire unbroken stand of 85 for the sixth wicket to lift New Zealand to 189 for five in the opening Twenty20 International against the West Indies on Saturday.
New Zealand were in trouble at 104 for five when McCullum (60 not out) was joined by Ronchi (48 not out) in the 13th over.
McCullum had gone in to bat in the fourth over when the removal of Martin Guptill started a mini-collapse of the New Zealand top-order.
McCullum, who faced 45 balls, hit four sixes and two fours while Ronchi hit four sixes and three fours from 25 deliveries.
Guptill (25) gave New Zealand a flying start with a six and two fours off consecutive balls from Tino Best‘s first over but gave a soft catch to Johnson Charles in Best’s second over.
He was the first of three batsmen to reach the 20s but fail to carry on.
Best recovered from his first over hiding to finish his four overs with figures of three for 40 while Nikita Miller took two for 26.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 189 for 5 in 20 overs (Brendon McCullum 60*, Luke Ronchi 48*; Tino Best 3 for 40, Nikita Miller 2 for 26) vs West Indies.
