Cricket: Kiwis strike back to get off the mark

Hosts suffer first setback in ODI series with 88-run loss.

BASSETERRE: An under-strength New Zealand side pulled off a superb 88-run win in the third of their five match One-Day International (ODI) series with the West Indies.

The Kiwis - who trail 2-1 - made 249 with man-of-the-match opener Rob Nicol top-scoring with 59. The hosts never got any momentum going and were bowled out for 161. New Zealand’s stand-in captain Kane Williamson said that the win was crucial for their chances in the series.

“It’s a great shift in momentum,” said Williamson. “We learned our lessons from the other games. It’s nice to get a win in such a crucial game.”

The fourth game of the series will be played tomorrow.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2012.