Cricket: Solid old guard fire up the top order

New Zealand will travel to the country's adventure capital today safe in the knowledge a bit of selection risk-taking with a view to the World Cup is unlikely to harm their chances of winning this one-day series.

Against an undercooked West Indies in Wellington yesterday, New Zealand was far too strong, winning by 81 runs. Another win in Queenstown on Wednesday could, ironically, open the way for the New Zealand selectors to take some calculated gambles and introduce more depth to the squad.

There was plenty to like about this New Zealand performance, even if the game itself scored high on the snore-o-meter. Old hands Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming showed they still had plenty of life at the crease, Jamie How added to his growing reputation and Michael Mason gave his strongest international performance.

But shorn of Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram, New Zealand's middle order is now crying out for somebody who can come in and clear the ropes with a minimum of effort. Without wanting to sing the same song too often, there is a certain batsman playing in Central Districts that fits that bill.

Much has been made of the crisis enveloping West Indian cricket and, while there was nothing yesterday to ease the fears of fans crying out for a competitive series, it has to be remembered this was their first one-day international since August, a staggering statistic in these days of saturation ODIs.

New Zealand at times were half-cocked but still never looked like relinquishing control, even when Daren Ganga and Ramnaresh Sarwan were compiling 88 for the third wicket.

Much of New Zealand's spark in the field is ignited by Hamish Marshall at backward point but he had a mixed day on the Wellington turf, highlighted when he shelled a catch off Sarwan when he was on two, off Mason's first ball back in international cricket since 2004.

Brendon McCullum missed a stumping off the same batsmen off Daniel Vettori shortly after he had passed 50.

For the West Indies to be a genuine danger in this series, Chris Gayle is going to have to carry much of the load. At his best the languid left-hander can take attacks apart with booming off-drives and vicious pulls. At his worst you get what we saw yesterday - lame slap shots that travel straight to fieldsmen.

In fact, the West Indies' three most experienced players summed up what was wrong with their cricket yesterday. Captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul was bowled between his legs by novice spinner Jeetan Patel, Gayle perished to Shane Bond and Wavell Hinds took 17 balls to get three runs before lifting a Vettori long-hop to James Franklin on the boundary.

All three wickets came at crucial times and all were avoidable.

When Sarwan, playing an effective anchor role despite the two lives, was unluckily adjudged caught after appearing to miss one that turned off Vettori, it was curtains, even taking into account some macho blows from feisty allrounder Dwayne Smith.

Earlier, New Zealand were solid but rarely spectacular in compiling 288-9.

As churlish as it sounds, they would have been disappointed with their final total. They were 234-2 after 41 overs and poised to launch an assault that would put the total well in excess of 300.

But Nathan Astle chipped out for 90 and the innings lost all impetus as the incoming batsmen all struggled to score quickly from the outset.

McCullum (two from five balls), Peter Fulton (seven from eight), James Franklin (two from four), Hamish Marshall (seven from seven) and Vettori (0 from 0) all perished in the pursuit of quick runs. Only Scott Styris, with a fortunate 36 off 34 deliveries, got a start.

While that was disappointing, the top order was anything but.

Nathan Astle, an endangered species a matter of weeks ago, took another step towards ensuring it wouldn't happen again before the World Cup with a 90 that was small on highlights but still authoritative.

Since he was dropped he has come back with two, 90 not out, 47 and yesterday's effort.

Jamie How will be kicking himself for getting yorked by spinner Chris Gayle when he was well set on 66.

Fleming's quick-fire 55 was the most impressive innings of the lot, coming as it did from 48 balls and peppered with six fours and a six.

It was a welcome return to international form for the skipper who has had an interrupted season and has barely contributed (0, 37 and 0) when he has got to the crease.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY