ROSEAU, Dominica: Captain Brendon McCullum hit 40 off 35 balls as New Zealand wrapped up a 12-run Duckworth/Lewis victory over the West Indies in a rainy opening Twenty20 at Windsor Park on Saturday.
In a match reduced to 18 overs per side by light rain, New Zealand was well placed at 117-4 off 15 overs in pursuit of 133 to win when bad light and persistent drizzle finally ended the contest. McCullum slammed three fours and a six while former skipper Ross Taylor contributed a crucial, unbeaten 28 off 20 balls.
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy led the hosts' bowling with 3-22. Earlier, the West Indies' total of 132-8 was based around Andre Fletcher's top-score of 52 off 39 balls and his third-wicket stand of 88 with Darren Bravo, who contributed 30 off 28 deliveries.
Man-of-the-match Fletcher hit one four and four sixes while left-hander Bravo cracked two sixes. The pace pair of Tim Southee (2-20) and Trent Boult (2-28) were the mainstays of New Zealand's effort after they won the toss and chose to bowl.
Bolt trapped Lendl Simmons (1) leg before wicket with a yorker before Southee removed Dwayne Smith (8) at 10-2. Fletcher and Bravo enjoyed their stand either side of an hour and a half rain interruption.
But once both departed, the innings lost momentum, with allrounder Corey Anderson (2-32) also picking up two wickets. New Zealand's chase lost Jimmy Neesham early when he dragged on a yorker from Krishmar Santokie at 12-1.
But McCullum shared a second-wicket stand of 53 with Kane Williamson (19) to engineer his side's victory. Sammy struck three times during the light drizzle but New Zealand was always ahead on the rain rule. The second and final match in the series is at the same venue on Sunday.
