Windies skittled in shootout

Shane Bond celebrates hitting the stumps, as the West Indies team stand dejected. Phil Walter / Getty Images

It was cricket, but not as we knew it, when New Zealand beat the West Indies 3-nil last night in a Twenty20 bowl-off - the first in the history of international fixtures.

Faced with a tied game at the end of the 20-over showdown, New Zealand persevered in cricket's version of a penalty shootout, scoring three direct hits out of nine on an undefended set of stumps, against the Windies' none from eight.

Marketed as the swan-song for retiring New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, the match instead exceeded all expectations as a contest after New Zealand could only match the Windies' score of 126.

In front of a crowd of 27,831, three players from each side missed the stumps with their two free deliveries, then New Zealand bowler Shane Bond ended the embarrassment with consecutive strikes.

The West Indies' penultimate bowler, Ian Bradshaw, then missed, leaving Scott Styris to clinch the result with his first delivery.

It was a hilarious ending to the tour opener, highlighted by the retro-clad New Zealanders standing arm-in-arm during the shootout, as if they were Liverpool in last season's Champions Trophy final.

But it was also a triumph for the West Indians, who had never played a Twenty20 international, and also for New Zealand Cricket, who witnessed a rugby sevens-type revival throughout the night.

The West Indies' 126 was never considered a serious threat until New Zealand began losing momentum midway through their chase, despite Lou Vincent starting proceedings with a rollicking 42 off 37 balls.

However, James Franklin smote a huge six at the start of the final over and, requiring five off the last ball to win, managed to smash a one-bounce four through the on-side.

Cairns' final act was a mixed bag. He ran out Dwayne Smith brilliantly with a back-hand flick and ended the West Indian innings when he caught Denesh Ramdin in the deep, but couldn't get under way with the bat.