Cricket World Cup: Windies' bowling pair on target in the powerplay

West Indies bowler Jason Holder. Photo / AP

In astonishing news for New Zealand fans, the West Indies opening partnership of Jerome Taylor and Jason Holder have been more effective with the ball in the 10-over powerplay at the World Cup than Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

The New Zealand pair have often indulged in their spurts of wicket-taking, such as against England and Australia, in the overs immediately afterwards.

Southee has bowled 28 opening powerplay overs and taken five for 116; Boult has delivered 28 and taken six for 102.

Compare that with Taylor's eight for 100 from 27 overs and Holder's seven for 92 from 28.

The West Indian pair have taken four more wickets and gone at 3.49 an over compared to the New Zealander's 3.89. It is an advantage, albeit minor, for the Caribbean cricketers to take into their quarter-final against an unbeaten host XI.

However, New Zealand trump the West Indies for bowling dominance in the batting powerplay. Ironically, the other bowlers have taken a minimum punishment because of the feats of Southee and Boult in the previous overs.

New Zealand have bowled only 21.2 of a possible 30 batting powerplay overs while taking four wickets and conceding a run rate of 5.44.

Daniel Vettori has been the most effective exponent with two for 33 from 5.2 overs, although both wickets wrapped up the Scottish tail.

In contrast, the West Indies have delivered 29.1 overs and taken seven wickets at an economy rate of 7.61.

Chris Gayle put in the best performance, taking two for 19 from three overs after his double century against Zimbabwe, but Taylor and Holder have each gone at 10 an over.

Eight West Indians have bowled two or more overs during the batting powerplay compared to five New Zealanders.

West Indian great - and now bowling coach - Sir Curtly Ambrose paid tribute to the impact of his opening pair yesterday, but lamented bowlers' lack of general impact.

"The combination is working pretty well for us. We know how talented captain Holder is, and Taylor is a wonderful bowler who swings the ball. They're going to be a key to start the innings.

"However, it's grossly one-sided at present. Everything favours the batsman.

"The powers that be may need to look at it seriously and make it more even ... if you don't have bowlers, you have no cricket. Soon we may have to just get bowling machines," he deadpanned.

New Zealand great Sir Richard Hadlee acknowledged the issue, but believed there were still ways for bowlers to excel.

"A lot of teams are in trouble early on. They've lost one for 10 or two for 20 so clearly the two balls that are used, one at each end, is having a dramatic effect.

"Quality bowlers are going to get quality batsmen out, despite the state of the game," he said.

3 things at the World Cup

1. Slightly better

Windies opening bowlers Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor have taken 15 wickets and gone at 3.49 an over compared to Tim Southee and Trent Boult's 11 wickets at 3.89.

2. The difference
NZ have bowled only 21.2 of a possible 30 batting powerplay overs while taking four wickets and conceding a run rate of 5.44. The West Indies have delivered 29.1 overs and taken seven wickets at an economy rate of 7.61.

3. Eight to five
Eight West Indians have bowled two or more overs during the batting powerplay compared to five New Zealanders.

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