ST KITTS: On his recall to the West Indian team, Tino Best took 4/46 to help his team squeeze out a tight win against New Zealand, whose skipper Ross Taylor smashed a fine century.
West Indies thus wrapped up the one-day series with a 24-run win in Saturday’s fourth match.
Taylor, playing in his first match of the series after injuring his shoulder in an earlier Twenty20 international between the two sides in Florida last month, performed well to make 110 off 115 balls.
Earlier, Kieron Pollard hit a patient half-century as West Indies recovered from 105/5 to make 264 all out.
Pollard top-scored with 56, Marlon Samuels made 46 while the recalled Devon Thomas hit a useful 37.
Victory gave West Indies an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series which concludes with the fifth and final match at Warner Park on Monday.
“The good thing for us today was that the lower order came through. New Zealand improved as the series went on, but it was good to see we kept our cool.”
West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine, who took 2/20, was named man of the match and he won rich praise from Taylor.
“You have got to give credit to West Indies,” said Taylor. “They were under pressure. We would have liked to put the foot down on the throat, but we didn’t execute well.
“You have got to back yourself to get 79 off the last 10, but you have to give credit to Narine.” (AFP)