NEW ZEALAND cruise to 5-wicket win
Bracewell had fallen out of favour with New Zealand Cricket after a string of off-field incidents, including a drinkdriving conviction earlier this year.
The 27-year-old was called up as a last-minute replacement for Colin de Grandhomme after the all-rounder ruled himself out of the series following his father’s death.
“For him to come back and perform the way he did, taking some big scalps for us, was outstanding,” said captain Kane Williamson.
Spinner Todd Astle also contributed three for 33 in his ODI debut as the Black Caps attack maintained constant pressure with the ball.
New Zealand opening batsmen George Worker and Colin Munro laid the foundation for the hosts’ chase with a 108-run partnership.
Worker finished on 57 and Munro 49 as New Zealand’s top order all made starts, with Williamson contributing 38 and Ross Taylor unbeaten on 49.
The loss leaves the West Indies yet to register a win on their New Zealand tour after a 2-0 whitewash in the Test series.
They are in a form slump that has seen them win only three of 17 ODIs contested in 2017.
The next fixture in the three-match ODI series is in Christchurch on Saturday.
Williamson and paceman Tim Southee will be rested for the second and third matches. West Indies C Gayle c Latham b Bracewell ------------------------------ 22 E Lewis lbw b Astle ---------------------------------------------- 76 S Hope c Latham b Bracewell -------------------------------- 0 S Hetmyer c Ferguson b Astle ----------------------------- 29 J Mohammed b Ferguson ------------------------------------- 9 J Holder c Taylor b Bracewell --------------------------------- 8 R Powell c Williamson b Bracewell ---------------------- 59 A Nurse lbw b Astle ----------------------------------------------- 2 R Beaton c Latham b Ferguson ------------------------------ 3 K Williams not out ---------------------------------------------- 16 S Gabriel not out --------------------------------------------------- 0 Extras (lb6, w18) ------------------------------------------------ 24 Total (9 wickets, 50 overs) -------------------------- 248 Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-41, 3-103, 4-117, 5-134, 6-177, 7-182, 8-201, 9-246 Bowling: Southee 10-2-49-0, Boult 10-2-48-0, Ferguson 10-0-49-2, Bracewell 8-0-55-4, Astle 10-133-3, Munro 2-0-8-0 New Zealand (target 249) G Worker b Nurse ------------------------------------------------ 57 C Munro c Nurse b Williams -------------------------------- 49 K Williamson b Holder ---------------------------------------- 38 R Taylor not out --------------------------------------------------- 49 T Latham lbw Nurse --------------------------------------------- 17 H Nicholls c Hope b Holder . --------------------------------- 17 T Astle not out ----------------------------------------------------- 15 Extras ( lb2, w5) ---------------------------------------------------- 7 Total (5 wickets, 46.0 overs) ---------------------- 249 Fall of wickets: 1-108, 2-118, 3-175, 4-201, 5-230 Bowling: Gabriel 10-0-57-0, Beaton 9-1-42-0, Holder 9-1-52-2, Williams 5-0-18-1, Nurse 10-0-552, Mohammed 2-0-13-0, Powell 1-0-10-0