| Event: | West Indies in New Zealand 2008/09 |
DateLine: 31st December 2008
Rain interrupted the first ODI at Queenstown with the West Indies struggling for momentum at 129 for 5 after 35.4 overs. Xavier Marshall was unbeaten on 29 and Denesh Ramdin on 2. There was hope that the rain might just pass away and the game might be shortened with the enforcement of Duckworth/Lewis calculations but then the persistent rain killed such thoughts. After the umpires inspected the ground conditions and the time lapsed because of the rain, it was wisely decided that the play will be called off.
Sewnarine Chattergoon and Chris Gayle opened the innings for West Indies. The openers put together a patient 42. Sewnarine Chattergoon was the first casualty when he dragged a ball from Mark Gillespie back onto his stumps and was out for 13 off 31 balls. Chris Gayle followed just five balls later for 25 off 36 when he edged a delivery from Kyle Mills through to Brendon McCullum. Sarwan and Xavier Marshall then added 60 for the third wicket and just as Sarwan looked set for a big innings, he was caught behind by McCullum trying to cut a quicker delivery from Daniel Vettori. Brendan Nash played all over a straight slower ball from Southee to find his middle stump uprooted and then shortly Pollard also joined him in the dressing room when he tickled a wide ball from Southee through to McCullum.
Vettori and Southee bowled well in tandem to peg back the West Indian middle order. Vettori continued his magical hold over the visitors, with figures of 1 for 26 off eight overs before the rain came.
