Cricket: Just another day at Black Caps' office

By RICHARD BOOCK

NAPIER - Ho Hum. Another win over the West Indies, another series victory for New Zealand. Such is life these days.

The only thing remotely surprising about New Zealand's four- wicket win at McLean Park last night was that the West Indies have not arrested their decline as many had hoped, but have instead reached something close to terminal velocity - with no parachute in sight.

Last night's result carried New Zealand into an unassailable 3-0 lead with two matches remaining in the one-day series, and left the West Indies within reach of the worst record of any team to tour New Zealand, including the distinctly ordinary Sri Lankans of 1983.

The tourists were bundled out for 159 last night after Brian Lara won the toss and elected to bat, and New Zealand managed to reach the target with 12.4 overs to spare, following more impressive batting from Stephen Fleming (66 not out) and Nathan Astle (50).

The pair came together at the fall of Craig Spearman's wicket when the total was one, and added 105 for the second wicket in the space of 20 overs, with Astle bringing up his 20th ODI 50 (in 58 balls) before swinging across the line at Nehemiah Perry.

The New Zealand opener has strung together consecutive scores of 77, 32 and 50 in this series at an average of 53, but perhaps needed to pace his innings a fraction better last night, rather than aiming another big shot at Perry.

His dismissal triggered a mini-collapse as Lara handed the ball to the West Indies' best bowler Reon King, and then looked on as the Michael Holding-lookalike reduced New Zealand to 142 for six with the wickets of Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan and Chris Harris.

Fleming, however, ensured there would be no late turnaround, his second consecutive 50 arriving in 74 balls as he steered New Zealand to their first-ever ODI series win over the West Indies.

Someone once suggested the England team of the 1990s had only three major problems - they couldn't bat, they couldn't bowl and they couldn't field. The West Indies seem to have all of those concerns and one other - they cannot select either.

They got it wrong for the first test, mucked it up even more for the second, and - after heading into the first two one-dayers with an unhealthy preoccupation with pace - ironically carried 30 overs of spin last night on a pitch favouring the quicks.

Having brought Dinanath Ramnarine and lower-order batsman Wavell Hinds in at the expense of Courtney Walsh and Franklyn Rose, the West Indies lost Sherwin Campbell to the first legitimate ball of the match (as they did in Taupo), and never recovered the initiative.

Jimmy Adams and Shivnarine Chanderpaul departed before the start of the seventh over and the entire West Indian top-order were back in the dressing room by the 24th, leaving Nehemiah Perry to restore a veil of respect with an unbeaten 52.

New Zealand's success in the field was again highlighted by some impressive individual efforts, particularly from Chris Cairns - who knocked the top off the West Indian innings while taking three for 25 - and Chris Harris, who boosted his tally of caught-and bowled dismissals to 22 while taking three for 28.

Lara tried to repair the damage when he arrived in the seventh over, but found little support from the other end and eventually offered Harris a return catch after collecting 30 off 45 balls.

The teams now head for Wellington and the fourth ODI tomorrow, with the final game of the series scheduled for Christchurch on Tuesday.