Vettori lauds NZ bowlers for braving Brathwaite storm

MANCHESTER, June 24 (AFP): Former captain Daniel Vettori has praised New Zealand for holding their nerve as West Indies batsman Carlos Brathwaite launched a blistering World Cup onslaught.

Brathwaite smashed 101 to take West Indies agonisingly close to victory at Old Trafford on Saturday but was caught by Trent Boult in the deep off the bowling of paceman Jimmy Neesham in the 49th over.

The West Indies were all out for 286, losing by just five runs.

"You're always rooting for your country to win but when you watch someone like Carlos Brathwaite play an innings like that, you can't help but admire what you see," Vettori wrote in his column for the International Cricket Council.

"A West Indies team is always exceptionally talented and they have so many match-winners."

Boult returned figures of 4-30 and was ably supported by fellow paceman Lockie Ferguson, who took three wickets.

"Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson proved their worth with seven wickets between them. They put West Indies under pressure early on, particularly Boult, then backed it up in the middle," said Vettori. "Ferguson's job is to get wickets and he's up to the task. He's got 14 in the tournament now and I really like his style of bowling."

Skipper Kane Williamson set up victory with his second successive World Cup century and a 160-run partnership with Ross Taylor that guided the Kiwis to 291-8.

"New Zealand know that those two are going to be brilliant and that they can rely on them more often than not," said Vettori.