New Zealand beat West Indies by five runs despite Brathwaite fireworks

MANCHESTER: New Zealand boosted their bid to reach the World Cup semi-finals as Kane Williamson’s 148 set up a dramatic five-run win over the West Indies on Saturday.

Williamson’s imperious 154-ball innings laid the foundations for New Zealand’s 291-8 at Old Trafford.

In a thrilling run-chase, West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite hit 101 from 82 balls to carry his team to the brink of victory before being caught on the boundary going for what would have been the winning six.

New Zealand are top of the 10-team table with five wins from six matches.

Earlier, New Zealand  made 292  runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50  overs after they were put into bat by West Indies captain Jason Holder, who won the toss

Captain Kane Williamson scored a brilliant  century, his second consecutive hundred in the tournament.

He made 148 from 154 balls with 14 fours and a six. He added 160 runs for the third wicket partnership with Ross Taylor, who made 69.

Left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell captured four wickets for 56 runs. He removed both New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro for golden ducks in a dramatic first over.

West Indies made three changes from the side that suffered a seven-wicket defeat by Bangladesh in Taunton on Monday.

Top-order batsman Darren Bravo and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel were omitted, while all-rounder Andre Russell was sidelined with a knee injury.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach, all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite and spinner Ashley Nurse came into the team.

New Zealand -- who have fielded the same team throughout the tournament -- were unchanged from the side that beat South Africa by four wickets in a thrilling contest on Wednesday.

Teams

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wkt), Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope (wkt), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder (capt), Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thom