June 11, 2002	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1423

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CASTRIES (St Lucia), June 10: West Indies cruised to an easy seven-wicket victory over New Zealand, surpassing their 210 for seven with 10 overs to spare in the third One-day International Sunday.

West Indies made 211 for three in 40 overs with Brian Lara top-scoring with an unbeaten 59.

The home side now have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the best of five series, and extended New Zealand’s one-day losing streak to the last eight matches.

While Lara shared in a decisive 77-run third wicket partnership with Ramnaresh Sarwan (42) all of the West Indies top-order contributed to the run chase.

Openers Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul punished Daryl Tuffey and Ian Butler with a 63-run stand in 11 overs before Paul Hitchcock and Chris Harris slowed the run rate.

Chanderpaul was dismissed for 30 when he skewed a Harris delivery to Hitchcock at mid off on the second delivery in the 12th over.

Hitchcock was rewarded when he clean bowled Gayle for 37 to have the West Indies on 79 for two in the 17th over.

However, Ramnaresh and Lara then built on the fast start punishing any loose bowling, particularly of left-arm spinner Matthew Hart, in for the rested Daniel Vettori, who had 10 runs taken from his first over.

Hart eventually went for 26 runs off his four overs, though Hitchcock was the only bowler not to be punished by the flashy West Indians, conceding 31 runs off his 10 overs and picking up one wicket while bowling four maidens.

Harris grabbed the other two wickets for the Kiwi bowling attack, that has struggled to find any rhythm so far.

Lara and Sarwan took the homeside through to 156 before Sarwan was lbw to Harris in the 33rd over.

The Trinidadian, who was dropped down the order to number six on Saturday, then combined with Ryan Hinds (18 not out) to smash the 55 runs needed for victory off the next 43 balls.

Earlier Lou Vincent and Harris both scored half-centuries as New Zealand struggled to reach their total of 210 for seven off 50 overs.

Vincent, who scored 58 off 87 balls, and Harris (50 off 79 balls), combined for a fifth-wicket partnership of 90 after the West Indies bowlers had knocked over the Black Caps’ top order.

New Zealand had been struggling at 74 for four after Nathan Astle (12), Chris Nevin (20) and skipper Stephen Fleming (34) were all given out lbw before Craig McMillan (5) spooned an easy catch to Pedro Collins.

Harris and Vincent then combined, keeping the scoreboard ticking over before Harris was out, hooking a Dillon delivery to Sarwan at deep midwicket.

Collymore bowled all-rounder Scott Styris for one, ensuring he did not repeat his heroics of the second one-dayer when he scored a quickfire 85.

Vincent, who smashed a straight six that cleared the sightscreen and a four off consecutive balls to advance through the 40s in two hits, brought up his second One-day International half-century with a single through the covers in the 47th over.

Collymore was the pick of the bowlers taking two wickets for 36 from 10 overs, with two maidens.

West Indies now lead the five-match series 2-0 after the first match in Jamaica was abandoned due to rain.

The fourth match is in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday.