Declan Rice has admitted that David Beckham was the inspiration behind his long-range goal that started Arsenal's comeback against Chelsea on Satuday.
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New Zealand have opted for experience in the ODIs against Bangladesh, recalling Neil Broom and Luke Ronchi, with the former back after a long hiatus
ESPNcricinfo staff15-Dec-2016Batsman Neil Broom, who last played an ODI in March 2010, has been recalled to the New Zealand squad for the upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh, which starts from December 26.Wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi was also recalled in place of BJ Watling, who was excluded from the side. Two other players who were part of the squad for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, batsman Henry Nicholls and legspinner Todd Astle, were also left out.
Kane Williamson (capt), Trent Boult, Neil Broom, Lockie Ferguson, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee
In: Neil Broom, Luke Ronchi
Out: BJ Watling, Todd Astle, Henry Nicholls
Broom had signed a two-year contract with Derbyshire in 2015, but chose to forego the second year to give himself another chance with New Zealand. The right-hand batsman is expected to slot in at No. 4 in place of Ross Taylor, who was ruled out after recently undergoing surgery on his left eye.”I appreciate everything Derbyshire have done for me and have really enjoyed my time with the club,” Broom said. “It was a tough call at the time. I had signed with Derbyshire for two years and I would’ve liked to see out the contract, but to get an international recall just outweighs it, so it was a pretty easy decision.”Broom played 22 ODIs between January 2009 and March 2010, scoring 333 runs at an average of 17.22. He has also played 10 T20Is, with the last one against Sri Lanka in November 2013.”When I first came in, I was overawed by everything and just really really wanted to do well and I put too much pressure on myself, so this time I’m not going to do that,” Broom said. “I tell myself this might be my last game every time I go out there. It’s probably something they tell you not to do, but you’ve got to enjoy every moment of it and try and have a couple of good years with the team.”Broom is among the top run-getters in the 2016-17 Plunket Shield first-class tournament, having scored 354 runs in seven innings at an average of 59. In 2015-16, he topped the run charts in the List A competition, the Ford Trophy, scoring 508 runs in nine matches with three centuries and two fifties.Ronchi, too, was rewarded for recent form. After a poor tour of India, and a modest run since early 2015, Ronchi was left out for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. Turning out for Wellington in the Plunket Shield, he scored a century and, on Thursday, struck an unbeaten 58 in a Super Smash match against Canterbury, which Wellington eventually lost in the one-over eliminator.Watling had scored 31 runs in the series against Australia, which New Zealand lost 3-0, while Nicholls played only one match, scoring 3. Astle was not given a game.New Zealand’s chairman of selectors Gavin Larsen acknowledged that Ronchi was seen as the best ODI wicketkeeper in the country and both players added value to the side with their experience.”With 12 years of domestic cricket under his belt and having previously spent time in the BlackCaps squad, Neil brings a lot of experience to the group,” Larsen said. “Neil was the top run-scorer in the Ford Trophy competition last year, with an average of 84.66. He has an impressive strike-rate and obviously fills the number four role with Ross out injured.”It’s been pleasing to see Luke scoring runs for Wellington again and he returns as one of the most experienced members of the squad. At this stage we see him as the best ODI gloveman in the country and the leadership he brings to the group is also immensely valuable.”The team will convene for a camp on December 23 and 24, with the first match scheduled for Boxing Day in Christchurch. The second and third ODIs will be played on December 29 and 31 in Nelson. The ODIs will be followed by three T20Is and two Tests.
Leeds United defender Robin Koch is being targeted in a surprise cut-price swoop by Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports.
Is Robin Koch leaving Leeds?
The Whites centre-back arrived at Elland Road from SC Freiburg back in 2020 and has since gone on to make a total of 77 appearances to date where he was a regular feature in the first-team last season, making 36 starts from 38 games in the Premier League.
The Germany international, however, will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window could be the club's final opportunity to cash in, should they not want to lose the 26-year-old for free, but regardless, Leeds officials could be forced to sanction his sale having now been relegated to the Championship.
Are Tottenham signing Koch?
According to Football Insider, Tottenham are setting their sights on Koch this summer, with the Leeds defender having been "shortlisted" as a serious centre-back option for Daniel Levy's new permanent manager.
Spurs know that the 6 foot 3 colossus will be available for a cut-price having dropped down to the second tier and his admirers are hopeful that £15m will be enough to reach an agreement. The Yorkshire outfit's star "fits the bill" in N17 and is "keen to stay" in the Premier League, so this could be one to watch in the weeks and months ahead.
Should Leeds keep or sell Koch?
Leeds don’t have the most attacking type of centre-back in Koch having recorded zero goals or assists since putting pen to paper, but he is strong in the natural defensive aspect of his game and has even been dubbed a “leader” by journalist Josh Bunting so the board may want to do everything they can to retain his services beyond the summer.
The Whites titan, who earns £40k-per-week, was averaging 4.1 clearances, 3.1 aerial wins and 1.5 tackles per top-flight game last term, via WhoScored, so was a relatively solid performer in the heart of the backline despite the collective struggles in front of Illan Meslier and Joel Robles.
The Kaiserslautern native also brings wonderful versatility to the side with his ability to operate in six various positions over the grass, including everywhere across the backline and even three positions in the midfield, so this is yet another extremely useful attribute for the next manager to have at his disposal should any unexpected injuries occur in other roles.
West Indies and Jamaica Tallawahs allrounder Andre Russell has made his first public comments since being charged by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) with committing an “anti-doping whereabouts” violation earlier this year for having allegedly missed three drug tests in a 12-month period. Three missed tests trigger a failed drug test ruling under anti-doping regulations.Preparing for Tallawahs’ final two games of the league stage of the Caribbean Premier League, in Lauderhill, Florida, Russell was asked what it had been like to play with the uncertainty of the JADCO tribunal process hanging over his head. Russell replied by describing the mental strain he has gone through since reports first surfaced in March that he was facing a two-year ban.”It’s not easy, honestly, it’s tough,” Russell said. “When I cross the rope, I definitely block it off my head but then when you go back to your room and you know you have to face reality and know that something is going on like that, it’s kind of stressing and depressing. But I have an amazing bunch of guys around me. So they keep me occupied, they keep me laughing. I just think that is a very good thing to do while going through something like that.”Everything is in place. My lawyers are doing whatever they have to do so I don’t really want to have to talk about it that much.”Russell avoided questions about last week’s independent panel hearing, offering a “no comment” when asked about the most recent events. According to , Russell’s lawyer Patrick Forster claimed at the hearing of an independent panel on July 20 that his client had received correspondence from JADCO for only twice – January to March, 2015 and July to September, 2015 – for allegedly missing the out-of-competition doping tests.In the mean time, Russell said he was focused on helping the first-place Tallawahs secure a second CPL title, after first winning it in 2013. Tallawahs round out their league stage by playing St Lucia Zouks twice, on July 30 and 31. Heading into the playoffs, a win in either game will clinch first place for Tallawahs, giving them two chances to reach the final.”This is what we live for, to be on top of the table,” Russell said. “We still have a few games to go. We’re still not going to take anything for granted. We’re going to try and play our best cricket so we can be in form going into the crucial games.”
ScorecardTim Groenewald gave Somerset a chance of victory•Getty Images
Somerset failed in their concerted bid to beat Yorkshire on the final day of their Specsavers’ County Championship game at the County Ground, Taunton.Despite dominating the game for the majority of the four days, Chris Rogers’ side came up short in the final session as Yorkshire held on to their unbeaten start to the Division One campaign. However, the loss of 19 overs in the day, to rain, might just have been the difference between winning for the first time this season, and yet another drawn gameResuming their first innings on 306 for 9, Yorkshire were quickly bowled out for 311 when Jamie Overton bowled Steven Patterson for 32. It might have been an early setback, but Patterson and Jack Brooks had certainly done their bit for the cause. In adding 74 for the 10th wicket, the pair had not only taken up valuable time, but had added valuable runs too.Somerset, as expected, enforced the follow-on and bowled particularly well with the new ball.Bowling coach Jason Kerr had highlighted the need for early wickets, at the end of day three, and though Adam Lyth and Alex Lees batted with due care and attention, prior to lunch, the afternoon session brought its reward.
Yorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie
“I won’t beat about the bush, we were outplayed by Somerset, without a doubt. But I am pleased that we were able to dig in and save the game. I felt that each player took responsibility and we go home having not lost the game. Our bowling was not good enough and we accept that. The thing we cant forget is that we havent lost a game of cricket despite being outplayed.”
Somerset captain Chris Rogers
“That is the best we have played this season, so far. On a very tough wicket to bowl on, we did fantastically well and nearly stole a win against the reigning champions. Let’s face it, had it not have been for the weather in the last two games, we would have probably won both matches.”
Lyth, who has scored over 800 runs at the County Ground in his last seven matches, was first to go, bowled by Overton when playing back to a short ball that kept low.Will Rhodes followed at 45 for 2 – caught at short leg by Tom Abell off the bowling of Jack Leach, and four runs later, Lees, who had scored only 11 off 97 balls, was bowled by Overton when offering no shot.The tea interval provided Yorkshire with some respite, but when Andrew Gale was caught by Leach off the bowling of Tim Groenewald at 69 for 4, Yorkshire were facing an anxious final two hours.Overton, whose spell on Monday had been described as ‘world class’ by Kerr, continued to bowl with real purpose. His third wicket came in the 53rd over when Gary Ballance carelessly flicked the 22-year-old bowler to Leach at square leg.At that stage, a victory for Somerset looks a distinct possibility. However, Jack Leaning and Liam Plunkett held out in the final hour and Yorkshire left for the long trip home with their unbeaten record still intact. When the captains shook hands shortly before six o’clock, Yorkshire had reached 141 for 6.Overton, Lewis Gregory and Groenewald continued to bowl well, without any good fortune, after tea, and director of cricket Matthew Maynard will be delighted with that as the side prepares for the T20 season, which for them kicks off on Friday against Kent, at Canterbury.Still, who knows what might have been had the inclement weather not have intervened.
Having lost four matches on the trot, Rising Pune Supergiants face plenty of questions over their personnel as they take on in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Preview by Karthik Krishnaswamy25-Apr-2016Match factsTuesday, April 26, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)4:27
Agarkar: Supergiants need Smith to score desperately
Big pictureRising Pune Supergiants have not exactly lived up to their name in their start to life in the IPL. They won their first match, and have lost four in a row since then. They are in a situation unlike anything their captain MS Dhoni has experienced in his IPL career so far. His worries go deeper than just results, since his squad, unlike those he led at Chennai Super Kings, seems full of weaknesses. Injury to Kevin Pietersen has created a hole in Supergiants’ batting, but they might not even seek a like-for-like replacement for him, since their bowling is an even bigger worry.It’s hardly the best time for Supergiants to play a Sunrisers Hyderabad side that has won its last three games. Sunrisers have done this without Kane Williamson, Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra, who are recovering from various injuries. They have done it thanks largely to David Warner’s form at the top of the order, and a bowling attack that is quickly showing to be one of the strongest in the competition.If Supergiants can get Warner early, they could put pressure on a batting line-up that still has a few unconvincing nuts and bolts, but do they have the bowling to do so? Can Supergiants find a source of middle-order power-hitting to complement a top three of rather more classical rhythms? And perhaps most pivotally, how will they counter the Mustafizur Rahman threat?Form guideSunrisers Hyderabad WWWLL (most recent match first)
Rising Pune Supergiants LLLLWIn the spotlightSeven wickets at an average of 16.42. An economy rate of 5.75. A deceptive, rubber-wristed mix of cutters and fast yorkers that continues to confound batsmen a year after he burst into international consciousness. A whole lot could hinge on how Supergiants tackle Mustafizur Rahman’s four overs.On paper, Mitchell Marsh can provide the power that Supergiants’ batting craves and give them a seam option that can be relied on to bowl four overs more often than not. For some reason, he has not featured since the team’s second match, against Gujarat Lions on April 14. For how long can Supergiants keep him out of their side?Team newsAshish Nehra bowled during Sunrisers’ warm-up session ahead of their match against Kings XI Punjab on Saturday. By the time they take on Supergiants, he will have had three more days to recover from his groin strain. If Nehra is fully fit, Sunrisers will have a difficult choice to make between him and Barinder Sran.Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 David Warner (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Aditya Tare, 4 Eoin Morgan, 5 Deepak Hooda, 6 Moises Henriques, 7 Naman Ojha (wk), 8 Bipul Sharma/Karn Sharma, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Ashish Nehra/Barinder SranSupergiants went into their last match, against Kolkata Knight Riders, with a seam attack made up entirely of allrounders. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium has given fast bowlers a bit of assistance, and that could prompt Dhoni to recall Ishant Sharma, possibly in place of the left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma, or Saurabh Tiwary, who did not get to bat against Knight Riders. Marsh could come in for Albie Morkel, who was expensive in his first game of the season on Sunday.Rising Pune Supergiants: 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Steven Smith, 4 MS Dhoni (cast & wk), 5 Mitchell Marsh/Albie Morkel, 6 Thisara Perera, 7 Rajat Bhatia, 8 R Ashwin, 9 & 10 Saurabh Tiwary/Ankit Sharma/Ishant Sharma, 11 M AshwinPitch and conditionsThe three matches that Hyderabad has hosted so far have been relatively low-scoring, producing first-innings totals of 142, 142 and 143. The chasing team won all three times, comfortably, with 10, 15 and 13 balls remaining. There has been a bit of help for the new ball, generally, and grip for cutters and slower balls, magnifying Mustafizur’s threat. Tuesday is expected to be a hot day, with a maximum of 43 degrees Celsius and no chance of rain.Stats and trivia Warner (29) has the most 50-plus scores in IPL history. Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma have 28 each, while Suresh Raina has 27. Among bowlers who have sent down 10 or more overs this season, Mustafizur Rahman (5.75) and Rajat Bhatia (5.78) are the only two with an economy rate under six
Injury expert Dr Rajpal Brar has said he’d ‘be surprised’ if Leeds United full-back Stuart Dallas returned from injury before the end of the current campaign.
The Lowdown: Three operations
Dallas has now been out of action for 11 months after suffering a serious injury against Manchester City at Elland Road last April. The Northern Irishman suffered a femoral fracture following a collision with Jack Grealish and had surgery in London shortly after.
Since then, the 31-year-old has had two more operations, with the first being to help limit the sensation in his knee and the latest a small clean-up surgery.
Leeds correspondent Phil Hay said at the beginning of the month that ‘it sounds like he’s going in the right direction’ with the aim ‘always to be back before the end of the season’, but it looks as if that may be asking a lot of the versatile fan favourite.
The Latest: Brar’s comments
Brar was talking to MOT Leeds News regarding Dallas and a possible return before the season is out. The injury expert said he had a ‘rare’ injury for footballers and admitted he’d ‘be surprised’ if he returned, claiming it would be a lot to ask.
“He had a rare femoral fracture (rare for footballers) and then a follow-up procedure in January as well to help clean up the area.
“I’d be surprised if he returned this season because he will return to relatively high-intensity games with Leeds looking to avoid the drop and that is a lot to ask for after missing the entire season.”
The Verdict: Right call
Dallas has been a key man for Leeds over a number of years, helping them return to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa. He won three honours following the club’s first season back in the top flight, turning out in a number of different positions.
However, it is only a year on from his very serious injury, so it could be the right decision to look to integrate Dallas back into the side in the summer instead of pushing for a return before the end of May.
He may need time to get fully back up to speed, and with Leeds involved in a battle to avoid the drop, placing the pressure on Dallas to perform to the high standards straightaway could be extremely unfair.
Hopefully, we will see Dallas return to the form that made him a regular for Leeds prior to his injury in the Premier League next season, provided the club remain in the top flight.
It has been reported that a section of Manchester United players are worried by Erik ten Hag's demands in training.
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Some Manchester United players blame Ten Hag for injuriesBelieve training demands too muchUnited have suffered slew of injuries this seasonGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
A group of Manchester United players believe that the Dutchman demands too much from his squad in training and is also to blame for the club's injury crisis, according to the Manchester Evening News. The club has suffered a slew of injuries throughout the season especially in defence where the club has struggled to plug gaps.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Nine players missed the Red Devils' Manchester derby loss to City on Sunday, according to the report, which details 47 separate cases of injuries and illnesses so far this season. Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, and Diogo Dalot are the only outfield players who have not missed time due to injury. The 3-1 loss to Manchester City also saw the Dutchman having to substitute Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans, after both players picked up issues during the game.
Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
Due to United's FA Cup fifth-round away match against Nottingham Forest four days before the derby, Ten Hag gave his players the day off on Monday and Friday of last week. United were ousted from all European competition in December after finishing last in their Champions League group, therefore their February schedule was comparatively light with just six games.
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WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
The Red Devils will have another decent break before their clash against Sean Dyche's Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday, March 9. They will then have another week to recuperate before they take on Liverpool in the quarter-final of the FA Cup on March 17.
For a few moments, play came to a halt with players from both sides having to be restrained from each other. Then Mahmudullah struck a six to seal Bangladesh’s place in the final
Andrew Fidel Fernando16-Mar-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAssociated PressMahmudullah, sublimely poised while chaos roiled around him, hoisted an Isuru Udana ball over the square leg boundary when six runs were required off the last two balls, propelling Bangladesh to victory in scintillating fashion. It is difficult to overstate the importance of his innings, though the numbers – 43 off 18 balls – bear witness to its quality. Incensed by several mistakes from his team-mates, maintaining his focus even through an ugly final over in which a Bangladesh sub was given a shove by a Sri Lanka player and Shakib Al Hasan seemed intent on bringing his batsmen off the field, Mahmudullah completed the chase of 160 with No. 10 batsman Rubel Hossain at the other end.A year’s worth of nerves and acrimony was packed into the final over. Tension between these teams had been high throughout the tournament, owing partly to the “nagin” [cobra] dance that they had mockingly traded with each other, a childish saga that had begun during Sri Lanka’s tour of Bangladesh. But it was upon the umpires’ failure to call the second delivery of that over a no-ball for height (it was the second bouncer of the over, the first having been a dot ball to Mustafizur Rahman), that the drama really sparked off. Mahmudullah was in the umpires’ faces, imploring them to award a no-ball that would make the requirement 11 off five balls with a free-hit to boot, instead of 12 off 4. Mustafizur, meanwhile, was run out attempting a bye at the other end.While Mahmudullah was arguing with the umpires, a fracas had boiled over elsewhere. A Bangladesh substitute who had come on to the field with drinks had become embroiled in an argument with the Sri Lanka players. It was when one of the Sri Lanka fielders gave the sub a push – not an almighty shove, but not a gentle prod either – that the Bangladesh dressing room became truly incensed. In a flash, Shakib came down the stairs and to the boundary, where after after speaking animatedly with the fourth umpire, he summoned Mahmudullah and Rubel off the field.In the end, after things had seemed to settle slightly, Mahmudullah carved a four over cover the first ball after resumption, then hit two to deep midwicket and gloriously lifted that leg-side six, with Udana having overpitched. His euphoric team-mates charged the field to embrace him, dusted off a group version of the nagin dance, and were celebrating when another unseemly altercation ensued. This time Kusal Mendis was yelling at the Bangladesh players and gesturing animatedly, while Tamim Iqbal put an arm around his shoulder and attempted to calm him down. In a month in which player behaviour has been under the microscope, all this made for especially disagreeable viewing.Celebrations in the Bangladesh dressing room in Colombo went a little down the wrong direction•Andrew Fernando/ESPNcricinfoIt was a pity that the theatrics marred what was otherwise an incredibly riveting game: a T20 that had had a top-order collapse, a stirring recovery, wonderful bowling, baffling dismissals, and a myriad dramatic moments even before that denouement. This was a match in which Bangladesh had justifiably installed two slips to Thisara Perera in the ninth over of Sri Lanka’s innings, after the hosts had found themselves 41 for 5, the collapse engineered by Mustafizur, Shakib and Mehedi, with a run-out thrown into the mix. Kusal Perera was the only top order batsman to survive this mayhem, and together with Thisara, forged a courageous 97-run stand that yanked a side on the brink of being annihilated, to a respectable score.Beautifully did the Pereras dovetail, Thisara laying low and digging in early in their association, while Kusal struck vital, boundaries to keep run rate above water. His scorching cut off Mahmudullah in the 10th over produced the first boundary in 25 deliveries. After two more fours off Rubel Hossain, Kusal took a mighty gamble – he attacked Mustafizur who had taken two wickets and conceded only four runs in his first two overs. That over – the 13th of the innings – would yield 18 runs, and energy would re-enter the Sri Lanka batting effort. Boundaries began to be found regularly, and twos were desperately run in between – the pair forever flirting with another run out, but just escaping. Thanks largely to the Pereras, Sri Lanka managed 69 off the last six overs – their 159 for 7 just about a par score on a slower deck.Akila Dananjaya made two breakthroughs in the Powerplay, to have the chase wobbling at 33 for 2 in the fourth over, but Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal combined for 64 runs off 52 balls, and ensured the chase stayed on track – Tamim hitting an important 50 off 42 balls. Bangladesh’s senior batsmen perhaps banked on being able to score quickly towards the end of the match, because one of Sri Lanka’s frontline bowlers – Nuwan Pradeep – sustained a game-ending leg injury in the field, after he had delivered only one over.Associated PressMushfiqur was out to Aponso in the 13th over, the bowler playing an imaginary snake-charmer’s flute in celebration, which was perhaps the only piece of real wit throughout the exchange between the two teams. When Tamim was out next over, and Soumya Sarkar soon after that, Bangladesh were in a little discomfort, with 51 still required off 31 balls, and only five wickets in hand.Mahmudullah eased himself into this innings. His first boundary came via a misfield at long-on in the 16th over. His next was a six down the ground off Jeevan Mendis, to bring the equation to 31 required off 21 – very gettable, so long as this senior pair saw them home. Shakib, however, would hole out to long leg with two overs to go, off a leg side half-volley, leaving Mahmudullah visibly angry.He would be even more irate at Mehidy Hasan at the end of the penultimate over, after Mehedi failed to dive at the end of a risky run, and was found to be short of his ground. As important as his nerveless boundary hitting was Mahmudullah’s running between the wickets, and his ability to place his shots between fielders. His innings contained six twos and a three, as well as four singles. He failed to score off only one dot ball. In purely cricketing terms, this was an outstanding T20 finish. His innings only glows brighter for having come amid such rancour.
Scorecard0:43
Devine ton sets up NZ women’s one-run win
New Zealand battled their own nerves, and a domineering onslaught from West Indies’ Kyshona Knight , to claim a hard-earned, one-run victory in the first ODI in Lincoln.Sophie Devine’s century had given the hosts 278 to defend. But when offspinner Leigh Kasperek stepped up for the final over, there were only 10 runs in the bank. The action began with two nervy singles. Then came Tremayne Smartt’s dismissal which lifted New Zealand’s chances. Kyshona thrust West Indies ahead with a timely boundary. But she couldn’t haul in the remaining five runs that the visitors still needed off the final two deliveries.Until those final few moments, West Indies had been well placed, led by Stafanie Taylor’s 90 off 93 balls. She struck eight fours and a six and played a key role in two fifty-run partnerships that ushered the score to 152 for 3 in the 35th over.New Zealand hit back through 17-year old legspinner Amelia Kerr as she took a spectacular diving catch to dismiss the dangerous Deandra Dottin and bowled Britney Cooper in consecutive overs. When Taylor herself fell, West Indies were 215 for 6 in the 43rd over.Kyshona took charge of the chase subsequently as she plundered three fours and a six in her 44 off 31 balls. West Indies nudged ever closer to their target until Kerr and Kasperek conceded a combined nine runs off the 47th an 48th overs to bring the equation down to 22 off 12. A costly 11-run penultimate over from Sophie Devine, however, tipped the scales back in the visitors’ favour but not quite enough as it turned out.Earlier, West Indies’ decision to field backfired as three solid stands worth 76, 60 and 63 took New Zealand to 199 for 3 inside 35 overs. Devine was the major contributor as her third ODI century – which featured eight fours and two sixes – took New Zealand towards a comfortable position even though she was one of only two batsmen who could manage a score above 27.West Indies’ spinners Taylor (3 for 54), Afy Fletcher (3 for 55) and Hayley Matthews (2 for 68) picked up eight wickets between them. But in a game of small margins, an unbeaten tenth-wicket stand of 27 off 19 between Kasperek and Huddleston ensured New Zealand had just enough on the board.New Zealand now have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series which is part of the second cycle of the Women’s ODI championship.