Windies rue poor batting as New Zealand win first ODI

WHANGAREI, New Zealand, Dec 20 (AFP): New Zealand cruised to a five-wicket win over the West Indies in the first one-day international on Wednesday as the tourists´ batting line-up failed to perform.

The return of Chris Gayle could not spark the West Indies, with the short-form master managing only 22 as his team struggled to 248-9 after losing the toss and being sent in to bat.

The Black Caps always looked comfortable chasing the modest total, overhauling it with four overs remaining at Whangarei´s Cobham Oval. West Indies skipper Jason Holder said his side needed to be "a lot better with the bat" as they chase their first ODI series win in New Zealand since 1995.

"It was tough, I didn´t think we had enough runs," he said. "We kept losing wickets at crucial stages of the game and never really gathered momentum.

"That obviously hampered us today and we´ve just got to correct it."

There were some bright spots for the Windies, with opener Evin Lewis notching a classy 76 and Rovman Powell staging a pugnacious rearguard action to score 59 off 50 balls.

Gayle -- fresh from notching a record 18 sixes in the Bangladesh Premier League T20 final -- had an uncharacteristically subdued innings.

He fell victim to resurgent New Zealand paceman Doug Bracewell, who was named man of the match after celebrating the end of a 15-month exile from the national team by claiming four wickets for 55.

Bracewell had fallen out of favour with New Zealand Cricket after a string of off-field incidents, including a drink-driving conviction earlier this year.

The 27-year-old was called up as a last-minute replacement for Colin de Grandhomme after the all-rounder ruled himself out of the series following his father´s death.

"For him to come back and perform the way he did, taking some big scalps for us, was outstanding," said captain Kane Williamson.

Spinner Todd Astle also contributed three for 33 in his ODI debut as the Black Caps attack maintained constant pressure with the ball.