Windies beat New Zealand by 9 wickets in 1st test

NORTH SOUND, Antigua and Barbuda (AP) — Fast bowler Kemar Roach took 5-60 and opener Chris Gayle hit 64 not out to lead West Indies to a nine-wicket victory over New Zealand on Sunday in the first of two tests.

Roach's probing spell helped New Zealand topple from 199-3 overnight to 272 only 75 minutes after lunch at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Offspinner Sunil Narine claimed 3-91 to finish with match figures of 8-223, while swing bowler Ravi Rampaul took 2-52.

Brendon McCullum hit 84 and Martin Gutpill 67 to provide the visitors' only resistance on the fourth day.

West Indies raced to 102-1 off 19.3 overs, with Gayle following his 150 in the first innings by blasting eight fours and two sixes off 49 balls. Kieran Powell compiled 30 and shared an opening stand of 77.

It was the Caribbean bowlers who dominated on the last day, with Roach leading the way.

New Zealand had negotiated the first 40 minutes without much alarm, but was derailed following a 20-minute rain delay.

Roach broke through with the second delivery upon resumption, Kiwi skipper Ross Taylor playing across the line to be lbw. He scored 21 off 78 balls with three boundaries.

In his next over, Roach struck more spectacularly, plucking out the off stump of Williamson (0) with an excellent leg-cutter.

New Zealand limped to lunch at 225-5, after adding just 26 runs off 26 overs in the morning session. The visitors struggled after the break as well, with the second new ball further compounding their misery.

Nightwatchman Neil Wagner, after spending 2 hours and 103 deliveries resisting the attack, played a leaden-footed drive at Roach and edged to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin. He hit two fours in scoring 13.

Seven balls later, Rampaul struck for the first time, claiming Dean Brownlie to a first slip catch by Chris Gayle at 225-7.

Daniel Vettori and Kruger van Wyk shared a counter-attacking stand of 26 before Rampaul broke through again when he induced another edge, from Vettori to Ramdin.

Narine, who won the man-of-the-match award, also made his mark by trapping Doug Bracwell lbw for a duck.

Van Wyk compiled 30 off 42 balls before he was Roach's fifth scalp, bowled by a well-disguised slower ball.

The victory target of 102 was never likely to be challenging, and the 32-year-old Gayle played some typically robust strokes in hastening the triumph.

Powell, with whom Gayle had shared a match-shaping opening stand of 254 in the first innings, also played some fine strokes before he fell with victory in sight.

Powell, who hit five fours, slashed Bracewell to point where Brownlie held an easy catch.

But Gayle stayed until the end, passing 50 off 42 balls, and Assad Fudadin (7 not out) had the honor of hitting the winning runs 47 minutes after tea.

The second and final test begins Thursday in Kingston, Jamaica.