Kiwi debutant punishes Windies

SETH RANCE, the right-arm paceman making his international debut yesterday, triggered a Windies batting meltdown as New Zealand waltzed to a 47-run victory in the first Twenty20 International at Saxton Oval in Nelson.

Rance picked up two wickets off successive deliveries in his second over, including the important one of Chris Gayle, to open up the floodgates. In the end, Windies were bowled out for 140 in 19 overs in response to New Zealand’s 187/7.

New Zealand, sent in to bat, reached the competitive total with Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee smashing 25 runs off the 20th over.

Windies, the world champions in the shortest format, never looked on track of their chase once Gayle fell for 12 in the third over.

The batsmen had crossed over when Gayle sent the ball soaring high up in the air for Glenn Phillips to take an easy catch. Chadwick Walton (7) faced the next Rance delivery, smacking it straight to Anaru Kitchen at cover-point.

The situation left Windies reeling at 19/2 and it never recovered from that initial setback.

Rance’s impressive figures of 3/30, and Southee’s 3/36 kept the hosts ahead throughout, handing them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

It was 162/7 going into the last over, when Santner launched his late salvo to finish unbeaten on 23 with Southee remained not out on 10. – ANA