New Zealand continue domination over the Windies with comprehensive team performance
Black Caps smash Windies in first ODI
New Zealand have begun their marathon summer of white ball cricket with a straightforward five-wicket win over the West Indies in Whangarei.
The tourists rarely looked like defending their 9-248 at Cobham Oval, although the Black Caps lost wickets at regular intervals on their way to 5-249 with four overs to spare.
The match at Cobham Oval was the first of 23 successive limited overs internationals scheduled on New Zealand soil.
The hosts continued their dominance from the 2-0 Test series triumph, setting the foundations of victory in the first three overs which were played out as maidens by usually-dynamic West Indies openers Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis.
New Zealand openers George Worker and Colin Munro had no such restrictions in response, putting on 108 inside 17 overs before both departed within the space of seven balls.
Munro blasted a typical 49 off 36 balls while Worker, filling in for the injured Martin Guptill, impressed with his ODI-best score of 57 off 66.
Captain Kane Williamson reached 38 but it was Ross Taylor's unbeaten 49 which ensured the tail wouldn't be exposed unnecessarily in a relatively uneventful run chase.
There was no explanation for Gayle's non-appearance in the field, placing some doubt over the veteran match-winner's availability for the two remaining matches in Christchurch.
His batting departure for 22 came in the first ball of the 11th over and marked a remarkable return to international cricket for man of the match Doug Bracewell (4-55).
In the wilderness for more than a year because of knee problems, seamer Bracewell snared Gayle caught behind and then bagged Shai Hope for a golden duck with his second legitimate delivery.
The other notable spell came from legspinner Todd Astle, who celebrated his maiden ODI appearance at the age of 31 with 3-33 off 10 overs.
Astle claimed the key wicket of Lewis, who anchored the early part of the innings but started to open up on 76 off 100 balls when he was trapped lbw.
The other innings of note was a career-best 59 off 50 balls from allrounder Rovman Powell which set up a score which threatened to challenge New Zealand but ultimately proved inadequate.