23 Dec 2017

Boult stars as Black Caps win ODI series

6:48 pm on 23 December 2017

The Black Caps have sewn up the one day international series against the West Indies after crushing the visitors in Christchurch by 204 runs.

The win was built on a brilliantly timed 130-run partnership between Henry Nicholls and Todd Astle, which propelled the Black Caps to 325 in the second ODI.

New Zealand's bowlers then played their part beautifully with Trent Boult taking a career best 7 wickets in a man of the match performance.

The Black Caps bowler Trent Boult in action.

The Black Caps bowler Trent Boult in action. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The visitors had New Zealand in a spot of bother at 186 for 5 but Nicholls, who ended with a career-best 83 off 62 balls, more than steadied the ship.

The 26-year-old left-hander belted seven fours and two sixes along the way.

He was well supported by Astle, who fell one run short of what would have been a deserved maiden half century, in just his second ODI.

Look back at commentary here.

Asked to bat, the Black Caps started solidly with Colin Munro and George Worker putting on 50 for the first wicket.

Munro was out late in the seventh over for 30. Neil Broom, batting at No.3 made just six.

Worker and the in-form Ross Taylor steadied the ship, before Worker holed out to Rovman Powell at fine leg.

His 53-ball 58 was his third ODI half-century and followed on from a 66-ball 57 in New Zealand's five-wicket win in the first ODI in Whangarei three days ago.

Taylor brought up another half century but when he was dismissed for 57 in the 33rd over, Astle and Nicholls took charge.

Nicholls anchored the middle of the innings and his partnership with Astle flourished, allowing New Zealand to post a very competitive score.

Henry Nicholls top scored for the Black Caps.

Henry Nicholls top scored for the Black Caps. Photo: Photosport

Windies bowlers Sheldon Cottrell finished with 3 for 62, and Jason Holder 2 for 52.

Set 326 runs to level the 3 match series, the West Indies needed to score at 6 and a half runs an over, without master blaster Chris Gayle, who's still sidelined with illness.

Trent Boult did the damage early, knocking over the West Indies batsman at regular intervals to have them 52 for 4.

Then speedster Lockie Ferguson struck with two wickets in two balls in the 16th over.

He chimed in with a third wicket a couple of overs later.

Re-enter Boult, who dismissed Sheldon Cottrell for 8, before knocking over the Windies highest scorer, Ashley Nurse for 27.

Two balls later Boult finished off the West Indies by bowling Shannon Gabriel.

The visitors could only manage a paltry 121.

Boult's 7-34 is the second best ODI bowling figures by a New Zealand player after Tim Southee's 7-33 against England in 2015.

Boult also ticked off 100 ODI wickets with his haul, having collected 94 going into the match.

The Black Caps have an unassailable 2-nil lead in the one day international series. The third ODI is on boxing day.

- AAP/RNZ