( L - R ) MORTON AND EDWARDS
NAPIER, New Zealand (CMC):
RUNAKO MORTON'S maiden international hundred and an excellent spell of fast bowling by Fidel Edwards were the only bright spots for the West Indies in an otherwise abysmal effort as New Zealand whipped them in the fourth one-day international (ODI) yesterday.
The Black Caps thoroughly outplayed the Caribbean side on the way to a 91-run victory that keeps them on course for a clean sweep of the series, with the final match to come tomorrow (Ja time) at Eden Park in Auckland.
Man of the Match Lou Vincent compiled only his second ODI hundred, 102, and with the support of the in-form Nathan Astle (81) and an unusually explosive Stephen Fleming (67), the home side raced to 324 for six - the third highest total ever conceded by the Caribbean side - in a run-glut that was only stemmed by Edwards' impressive effort in which he conceded just 23 runs off 10 overs, four of which were maidens.
GAVE UP CHASE
In sliding to the 16th defeat in their past 17 one-dayers, the tourists effectively gave up the chase at 64 for three in the 11th over, but Morton extended his encouraging run of scores while also pressing claims for inclusion in the team for the first Test in a week's time in Auckland with an unbeaten 110 off 154 balls that included seven fours.
However, his innings could make no difference to the final result with the West Indies restricted to 233 for eight, medium-pacer Kyle Mills marking his return to the home side from injury with figures of three for 46 complemented by a catch at mid-on and the run out of a well-set Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Although not fully recovered from a side strain sustained in the Twenty20 match two weeks earlier, Dwayne Bravo made his first appearance of the series as the West Indies 'super-sub'.
EMBARRASSMENT
But he failed to make an impression with the bat, having earlier watched from the players' enclosure as most of his teammates embarrassed themselves with a performance in the field that suggested their self-belief was at a very low ebb.
Edwards was the notable exception, bowling with genuine pace, accuracy and discipline in again sharing the new ball with Ian Bradshaw after Shivnarine Chanderpaul won his first toss of the series.
Yet, while the young pacer gave New Zealand's opening pair no liberties, his fellow Barbadian felt the weight of Fleming's bat in conceding four consecutive boundaries in his sixth over after a relatively quiet start in bright morning sunshine.
The home captain was not finished with his assault as in the very next over, the first by Deighton Butler, he slashed the first three deliveries for sixes over backward-point to reach his 43rd half-century in ODI's off just 36 balls.
PUNISHMENT
Fleming dominated a 106-run opening partnership with Vincent before edging a delivery from Dwayne Smith to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
More punishment was to follow for the visitors in a 156-run second-wicket stand between Vincent and Astle - a new wicket record for New Zealand against all opponents - as their out-cricket became increasingly ragged under the pressure imposed by the two attacking right-handers.
West Indies sent down 13 wides, a problem compounded by a succession of fumbles, misses and overthrows from even usually sure-handed fielders.
Astle's 88-ball innings, which included four fours and three sixes, eventually ended via a catch to Bradshaw off Chris Gayle, who finished with three for 50 in his 10-over spell.
The offspinner also accounted for Vincent, but not before the opener had reached the three-figure landmark off 114 deliveries with 10 fours and one six.
WICKETS TUMBLE
As expected, wickets tumbled in the final rush for runs off the last 10 overs and although he did not take a wicket, Edwards was disciplined to the last, conceding only two runs off the last over of the innings.
A crowd of almost 5,000 might have been anticipating a few West Indian fireworks in pursuit, especially in light of McLean Park's short square boundaries. But that sense of anticipation fizzled almost immediately with Gayle trapped palpably lbw offering no shot to Mills for five in just the third over of the innings.
Opening partner Daren Ganga gave a low catch to Mills at mid-on off Scott Styris and when Ramdin, again promoted to No. 4, flashed at Mills to give Styris a first slip catch above his head, the match was as good as over, especially with the New Zealanders remaining as determined and disciplined as if it were a tense finish.
To emphasise how much in control they were, Fleming was substituted by Jeetan Patel after 15 overs, leaving Daniel Vettori to direct operations in the middle.
