Carty and Hope steer West Indies past New Zealand in Guyana ODI opener

West Indies opened their ODI series against New Zealand with a seven-wicket victory in Guyana, guided by Keacy Carty’s 95 and an unbroken 87 from Shai Hope.

Chasing 267, the hosts closed out the target with seven deliveries left. The turning point was a 131-run stand for the third wicket between Carty and Hope that put the chase firmly on course.

Carty first shared a useful alliance with opener Akeem Auguste, who contributed 38, before linking up with Hope. After a close call on 64, Carty pressed on to 95 from 112 balls but fell short of a hundred.

Hope then steered the finish, remaining not out on 87 and ending the contest with Sherfane Rutherford, who struck two vital sixes in the 49th over.

New Zealand, having won the toss, began brightly. Will Young and Henry Nicholls added 80 for the first wicket, and Daryl Mitchell led the batting with 65. From 216 for four in the 40th over, however, the innings unravelled as the last six wickets tumbled for only 33 runs.

Michael Bracewell (29), Mark Chapman (27) and Tom Latham (25) each got going without converting those starts. Making his debut as captain, Vitel Lawes spearheaded the bowling recovery, removing Nicholls, Chapman and Bracewell on the way to figures of three for 54.

The result gives West Indies a 1-0 advantage in the five-match ODI series.