KINGSTON – West Indies defied rain to make a winning start to their Digicel One-Day International series against New Zealand yesterday, cruising to an easy nine-wicket win on the backs of explosive unbeaten half-centuries from Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle.
Set a revised target of 136 off 33 overs following a two-hour rain break during their innings at Sabina Park, West Indies posted victory off 24.2 overs to earn their third victory in succession.
Smith smashed 65 from 77 balls, while Gayle carved out 63 from 57 balls in an unbroken 130-run second wicket stand that crushed New Zealand’s attack which had struck early by removing opener Lendl Simmons without scoring.
For Gayle, the half-century was his third on the trot following on from last weekend’s Twenty20 doubleheader in Florida, and his fourth in five innings since his return to West Indies colours.
