BASSETERRE – Talismanic opener Chris Gayle failed for the first time in five innings, triggering a miserable West Indies batting slide that culminated in a disappointing 88-run loss in the third One-Day International, as New Zealand clawed their way back into the series with a gutsy performance here yesterday.
Chasing a moderate 250 for victory and a series-clinching 3-0 lead in the five-match series, West Indies proved a shadow of the side that dominated previous matches and crumbled in 34.3 overs for 161, their lowest ever ODI total at Warner Park.
Gayle, with three half-centuries and a century in his last four innings on tour, could only manage 11 this time around and it was left to fellow Jamaican Andre Russell to blast an unbeaten 42 at the end, to be the only batsman to pass 20.
Pacer Jacob Oram (2-22), off-spinner Nathan McCullum (2-40) and left-arm seamer Trent Boult (2-45) finished with two wickets apiece. (CMC)
