Twitter Reactions: Clinical New Zealand stroll past Windies in first ODI

After a dismal show in the Test series, the Windies camp hoped for an improved show in the limited overs series against New Zealand. The formats changed but the fortunes did not change for the visitors. In the first ODI at Whangarei, the hosts put up a clinical show to upset the visitors on the return of their big player Chris Gayle.

Batting first, the Windies side could only muster 248/9 in their stipulated 50 overs. The same old problem persisted for them as their batting struggled big time in the match. Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis opened for the visitors. While Lewis looked comfortable against the swinging deliveries, Gayle’s struggle looked surreal. He was dismissed on 22 by Doug Bracewell.

The middle-order collapse, a familiar sight for the Windies team, followed. Lewis was the lone ranger with 76 to his name. Also, Rovman Powell’s late hitting (59 off 50 deliveries) saw the Windies finish off with 248 on the board. Bracewell was the pick of the bowlers with a four wicket haul to his name. The run chase never really looked daunting.

And the New Zealand top order managed to make crucial contributions to make this as easy chase. Openers George Worker (57) and Colin Munro (49) added 108 for the first wicket to set up the base for the easy win. Also, skipper Kane Williamson hit 38 with the bat.

The senior man in the team, Ross Taylor, saw the hosts home with 5 wickets in hand as he was left stranded unbeaten on 49. Remarkably though, it was an anti-climax for Taylor. He was on strike with 49 in his bag when Rovman Powell came in to bowl the 47th over.

Much to his disappointment, Powell bowled a wide down the leg side to deny Ross Taylor a well deserved fifty. By the look of things, the wide did not really seem to be an intentional one. However, the social media had other thoughts. During the course of the game, the Twitterati kept tweeting about the match.

Here is how they reacted to the New Zealand v Windies first ODI:

Walking off with an unbeaten 49. BLACKCAPS lead the series 1-0 #nzvwi pic.twitter.com/BmlbP596VV

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 20, 2017

Man of the Match, Doug Bracewell – ‘Its been a hard road back after the injury, but glad to contribute’ #nzvwi pic.twitter.com/1KlvswS0SR

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 20, 2017

New Zealand have taken a 1-0 lead in the #NZvWI ODI series, a comfortable chase in Whangarei with the hosts coming out winners by 5 wickets with 4 overs spare #NZvWI

Scorecard: https://t.co/Ypk6zynYJR pic.twitter.com/oiFM8XD8iT

— ICC (@ICC) December 20, 2017

Rovman Powell just bowled a wide when New Zealand needed one run to win and Ross Taylor batting on 49! #NZvWI

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 20, 2017

Well played @BLACKCAPS ! Great to go 1 nil up. Well done to Toddy on debut and Doug for his best figures! @manuz05 and @GeorgeWorker with a key partnership to set it up and well finished off by @RossLTaylor #RedInk #NZvWI

— Martin Guptill (@Martyguptill) December 20, 2017

50 – Rovman Powell is the first ever West Indies' #7 batsman to score an ODI half-century against the @BLACKCAPS. Steady. pic.twitter.com/D2wyDiPxkT

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) December 20, 2017

Intentional wide from Rovman Powell to keep Ross Taylor away from his fifty?
Pretty poor if that is the case. #NZvWI

— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) December 20, 2017

@BLACKCAPS beat Windies by 5 Wickets in First ODI

ROSS TAYLOR 49*

NZ were required 1 run and Rovman Powell bowled a Wide ? #NZvWI pic.twitter.com/D3IbbQaODx

— Abhijeet (@TheYorkerBall) December 20, 2017

Rovman Powell just bowled a wide when New Zealand needed one run to win and Ross Taylor batting on 49! #NZsWI #cricket #cricketshaukeens

— Cricket Shaukeens (@cricketshaukeen) December 20, 2017

Rovman Powell proved why he is KKR Plyr ??

— Amit Bhilwade (@ab619cricket) December 20, 2017

One to win, Ross Taylor on 49, Rovman Powell bowls a wide #NZvWI

— Daniel Cherny ? (@DanielCherny) December 20, 2017

Rovman Powell bowled a wide as a result of which New Zealand win the first match of the series of by 5 wickets, Ross Taylor 49* was on the strike for the last ball. #NZvsWI

— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) December 20, 2017